PUNE: Though the Pune city police claim that the overall conviction rate is over 36 per cent, the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report states that the conviction rate of crime against women in Pune was a dismal 9.2 per cent in 2016. The pendency of such cases in courts is 95.2 per cent.
The conviction rate in such cases in Mumbai was 27.5 per cent, Delhi (29.5), Chennai (36.1), Lucknow (48.4), Ghaziabad (50.8) and Kanpur (53.6). Crimes against women include rape, attempt to commit rape, kidnapping and abduction of women, dowry deaths, assault on women with intent to outrage her modesty, insult to modesty of women, cruelty by husband or his relatives, importation of girls from foreign country, abetment of suicides of women, Dowry Prohibition Act, Indecent Representation of Women (Prevention) Act, Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act, Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act and Immoral Trafficking (Prevention) Act.
Though in various crimes, i.e. murder, robbery, etc, women are victims, they are not categorised as crimes against women.
Only those offences, which are specifically committed against women, are treated as crimes against women. The gender discrimination is the sole reason behind such crimes.
The NCRB report ‘Crime In India 2016’ states that 1,541 cases were sent for trial in 2016 while 8,988 cases were pending from previous years. Out of the total 10,529 cases, the courts completed trials in 403 cases while 447 cases were disposed of, out which only 37 resulted in conviction. The accused persons were discharged or acquitted in 366 cases.
An officer from Pune Police Crime Branch told Sakal Times, “In most of the cases, the accused and the victim are known to each other. While the trial is going on, they have settlements and then victims don’t support their own complaint in court. As there is little medical evidence, the case does not stand for conviction.”
Another officer added, “We have appointed pairvi officers at police station level and now charge sheets are being vetted by senior officers. Also, a committee comprising public prosecutor and police inspector of police station make sure that all evidence and reports are submitted with the charge sheet.”
According to Maharashtra CID, which compiles data of crimes in the State, the global campaign for elimination of violence against women in recent years indicates the enormity as well as the seriousness of the atrocities committed against women the world over.
“This is a matter of serious concern. Women in Maharashtra are to be guaranteed with all fundamental rights, raising the level of social awareness along with vigorous enforcement within the context of the Criminal Justice System. Despite many safeguards available, the women in our society continue to suffer due to lack of awareness of their rights, illiteracy and oppressive practices and customs. Consequently, distortions like constant fall in the sex ratio, high infant mortality rate, low literacy rate, high dropout rates of girls from schools, low wage rates, etc, are seen. No law can be gender biased. The provisions of the law specifically affecting women are being periodically reviewed and amended according to the needs of changing patterns of society and to safeguard the women folk,” Crime in Maharashtra report states.
