Quick response cells for abused women, kids a must in govt hospitals: HC bench

Earlier, the bench comprising Chief Justice Arjan Kumar Sikri and Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain while hearing a case pertaining to a girl of Badshapur village near Patiala district, who was gangraped, and later she had committed suicide, had directed all the counsels representing Punjab, Haryana and UT Administration to submit their suggestions mentioning ways to curb crime against women.

Kohli also suggested that there should be facilities for psychiatric and psychological counselling that will be provided to such victims and mandate should be issued to all the private hospitals not to turn away from such patients. Moreover, women commission must also act as watchdogs in the interest of women.

However, responding to another petition filed by H C Arora seeking quashing of the Punjab government's circular dated August 8, 2011 envisaging/providing for premature release of life convicts, including those who are convicted for rape, by grant of remission to them of the balance sentence, Kohli informed the bench that modified policy was to be put up before the Council of Ministers, for approval.

Furthermore, replying to a petition against eve -teasing, DIG of UT Administration Alok Kumar, by way of an affidavit, apprised that on September 29, 2012, an anti eve-teasing squad of four gazetted officers along with male and female police staff was constituted by the UT police with an objective to control instances related to eve teasing.

After visiting 83 schools, the team had received 1,050 written suggestions from the students related to eve-teasing. The police is working on them. Moreover, the police has also planned to organise awareness camps at bus stands and railway stations to educate rickshaw pullers and auto drivers, read the reply.

It was further highlighted that in a rape case, the statement of the victim should be recorded at her residence or another place of her choice and it should be in the presence of either parents or guardians.

During the last hearing of the case, the bench was informed that the challan in the Patiala rape case was produced before Illaqa magistrate on January 17, and a copy of the challan was submitted to the court.

Haryana Additional Director General of Police K Selvaraj informed the court that instructions had been issued on October 31 and December 19, 2012, to all commissioners of police, inspector generals of police, deputy commissioners and deputy superintendents of police to activate exclusive women helpline number '1091', introduce women police control room vehicles, and intensify patrolling around girls schools, colleges and sensitive areas.

The case would come now come up for hearing on February 26.

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