Madras High Court raises 25 queries to end sexual assaults

Chennai: As crimes against women and girl children are shockingly rising every year, especially, sex crimes, most urgent measures have to be taken. Hence, the following queries are raised, said Justice N. Kirubakaran.

They are:

Q What are all the reasons for the increase of sex crimes against women and girl children in India?

Q What are all the problems faced by the police authorities while dealing with the complaints involving sexual violence against women and girl children and prosecuting the case properly?

Q What is the rate of conviction in rape cases throughout the country and Tamil Nadu for the past 10 years?

Q What are all the steps taken, including making use of latest technology like DNA fingerprinting taken to effectively investigate and prosecute the culprits to get a conviction to prove “certainty of punishment” in cases of offences against women and girl children?

Q Why not the Central and State governments shall install CCTV cameras in public places, junctions and malls to have surveillance to prevent offences being committed especially against women and to detect the offenders in case of commission of offences and to prove the guilt of the accused to the hilt as the brutality of the murder was exhibited by the CCTV clippings captured in the closed-circuit TV fixed in the locality while Shankar was murdered in the busy market area at Udumalpet on March 14, 2016, in the name of honour killing?

Q Why not the central and state governments establish a centre for DNA fingerprinting and diagnostics to
investigate crimes effectively and prove the culpability of the offenders in India, which is the second most populous country with thousands of offences committed every minute?

Q Whether the victims of sexual violence are given proper counselling and support system to overcome the trauma and mental agony and paid compensation?

Q Is it a fact, in spite of the rise in complaints of sexual violence, many cases are not reported by the victims fearing stigma and exclusion by society and family?

Q Whether alcoholism is one of the main reasons for the spurt in offences against women and children?

Q Whether sexual violence against women is due to fall in sex ratio due to female infanticide and foeticide?

Q What are all the reasons for gang rapes of women, including toddlers, as more such cases are reported in the recent time?

Q Whether more sexual violence against women is due to “sex starvation” among Indian men in view of various prohibitions/prescription regarding sex on the ground of culture, religion, morality and ethics?

Q Whether sex offences/crimes against women and girl children are due to lack of knowledge and understanding about sex?

Q Are sex crimes, especially rape is committed due to the wrong impression of the male that women are their objects of pleasure and to prove their dominance and control over women?

Q Is it a fact that the rise in sex crimes is due to easy accessibility and availability of pornographic materials through the internet and smartphones which are easily available to all?

Q Is it a fact that nowadays films and serials shown on the television give tips/clues/ideas for the men, especially, youngsters and juveniles indulge in sexual violence against women and girl children?

Q Whether the Central and State governments have taken steps to introduce “Age-Appropriate Sex Education” in school curriculum itself to educate students/youngsters about sex to clear their doubts and wrong notions?

Q Why not the Central and state governments include a subject “moral education” to teach moral and ethical values and equality of women and girl children in the society to the students especially to boys?

Q Why not the Central and State governments sensitise the public, especially young men about the punishment and stringent laws for sexual assault on women and children?

Q Why not the film stars and celebrities, prominent personalities in the society be roped in, to advise the boys and youngsters to treat the women and girl children equal to men and boys by way of short films, issuance of pamphlets, commercial advertisements, seminars, lectures etc.,?

Q Why not Central government appoint a committee/commission headed by a retired Supreme Court judge with psychiatrists, psychologists, women activists and others to look into the various reasons, especially psychological/mind connected reasons for increase in sex crimes against women and children and to give recommendations suggesting remedial and preventive measures
to be taken by the central government including suitable amendments in laws?

Q Why not the government appoint well-trained counsellors/psychologists in every school or for 5 schools, so as to note anti-social and narcissistic personality disorders and identify potential sex offenders and give appropriate counselling with the co-operation of the parents discreetly, to avoid stigma on the children?

Q Whether all the states and Union Territories formulated a uniform scheme for providing victim compensation in respect of rape/sexual exploitation of physically handicapped women?

Q Is it a fact that many false complaints alleging sexual assault are being filed for various reasons to wreak vengeance against the opposite party?

Q Why not government distribute modern devices/gadgets for women, which could be used by the women at times of distress or while facing sexual violence?