‘Need spl police stations for rape cases’
REFORMS Officials say Delhi govt has executive powers over subjects like the CrPC and IPC to set up such stations PURPOSE OF THE GROUP OF MINISTERS
NEW DELHI: In a rare incidence, the Centre and the Arvind Kejriwal government, who are normally at loggerheads, appear to be on the same page over lowering the age of juveniles to be tried as adults for heinous crimes such as rape.
Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday demanded the juvenile age in heinous crimes to be lowered to 15 years.
The Centre has already passed the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2014, in the Lok Sabha to allow teenagers of 16-18 years to be tried as adults in such cases.
Even as the amendment Bill is pending approval in the Rajya Sabha, and debate on the proposals is still raging, the Delhi government on Monday appointed a Group of Ministers (GoM) for the purpose.
The GoM will examine whether the existing criminal laws can be amended to award death penalty or life imprisonment to those involved in raping minors, and to lower the cut-off age of juveniles found guilty in such cases.
“The GoM will minutely examine the amendments made in the criminal law in 2014, particularly the enhanced punishment for the offence of rape,” an official said, adding that the “GoM has been directed to submit a proposal before the Cabinet within 15 days after examining as to which criminal laws, and to what extent, could be amended to ensure enhanced punishment in Delhi”.
Even as CM Arvind Kejriwal once again targeted the Delhi Police on Monday for “having failed to ensure a sense of security for women in the city”, the GoM was mandated to examine and submit a report on whether “the Delhi government can set up special police stations to register and investigate crime against women in those cases where women do not get satisfactory responses from local police stations”.
Delhi government officials argued that they were well within their rights to explore the setting up such police stations as the Code for Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and Indian Penal Code (IPC) are subjects in the Concurrent List of the Constitution, over which the Delhi government has executive powers.
“Till the time the Union home ministry curtailed the powers of Delhi government’s anti-corruption branch, it used to function as a police station where complaints were registered and investigations conducted,” a government spokesperson said.
To ensure timely conviction of accused in rape cases, the GoM was also directed to examine the possibility of completing investigations in a time-bound manner; to examine whether accountability of investigative teams or forensic could be fixed if chargesheets are delayed and to examine how cases could be disposed expeditiously.
The CM said he also directed the departments of home and law to prepare a list of rape cases pending in various courts of Delhi and to prepare a strategy to fast-track these cases in consultation with Delhi High Court chief justice.
“The government is prepared to allocate whatever funds are required to increase the number of courts, judges and infrastructure,” said Kejriwal. Delhi govt appointed a Group of Ministers (GoM) consisting law minister Manish Sisodia and home minister Satyendar Jain
Group to check possibility of amending existing laws to award death penalty or life imprisonment for raping minors, lowering cut-off age of juveniles found guilty in such cases
GoM to also examine possibility of timely completion of investigations in rape cases
To see whether investigative or forensic teams can be held accountable for delay in filing chargesheets, and how cases can be disposed of quickly
DELHI GOVT TO CONSULT HC CHIEF JUSTICE FOR PREPARING A STRATEGY ON FAST TRACKING PENDING RAPE CASES