Rape, molestation accused in Hry to lose govt facilities
DETERRENT Chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar says driving and arms licences, old age pension and pension for physically disabled persons will not be provided to such accused
PANCHKULA: Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Thursday said the accused in rape and molestation cases in the state will now be debarred from government facilities such as old age pension, pension for the physically disabled persons, driving and arms licences.
Khattar announced this during a programme on women’s security and empowerment organised under the ‘Ek Aur Sudhar’ here.
He said if such an accused is later acquitted in the case, all the previously debarred facilities will be provided to him with retrospective effect.
FAST-TRACK COURTS TO COME UP IN 6 DISTRICTS
Khattar also said fast-track courts will be set up in six districts of the state. These courts would be set up in those districts where 50 or more cases of rape, molestation and mental harassment are pending in the courts. These include two in Faridabad and one each in Gurugram, Panipat, Sonepat and Nuh.
“I will shortly meet the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana high court to request him to issue necessary directions to the court to record the statement of (the victim) woman on the same day, and not to adjourn the hearing to any other day,” he added. The CM said a comprehensive scheme for the safety and security of women would also be launched either on Independence Day on August 15 or on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan on August 26.
Also in case, a rape victim wanted to hire a lawyer of her choice except for the one provided by the state government, she would be provided financial assistance of Rs 22,000 as fee.
The CM said the provision of uninterrupted investigation in cases of rape and molestation would be made in all police stations. “The investigation officer would have to complete the investigation into a rape case in one month, and in molestation within 15 days, failing which action would be taken against him,” he added.
SELF-DEFENCE TRAINING TO GIRLS FROM CLASS 9 TO 12
The CM also said instructors will be appointed for imparting self-defence training to girls from Class 9 to 12. “During the 44-month tenure of our government, we have opened 44 new colleges, including 29 women’s colleges. With the opening of nine more colleges soon, the state government would achieve its target of setting up one college at a distance of every 20 km,” he said.
Khattar said the participation of women in the state police has also increased from 6% to 9%. The increased number of women in the police would certainly help in curbing the crime against women, he added.
A comprehensive scheme for the safety and security of women will be launched either on Independence Day (on August 15) or on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan on August 26. MANOHAR LAL KHATTAR , chief minister