NEW DELHI, Dec 19: A Parliamentary panel today recommended setting up of special courts with women judges and public prosecutors for trial of cases of sexual harassment of SC/ST women and strongly endorsed provisions of the bill to prevent atrocities against the scheduled castes and tribes.
The recommendation was made by the Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment chaired by BJP MP Ramesh Bais, which examined the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill, 2014, which was referred to it in July after being introduced in the Lok Sabha.
The report of the panel was tabled in both Houses of Parliament today.
Making a strong pitch for special courts for women, it said that the Committee is “seriously concerned” about the rising crimes against women belonging to the SC/ST community.
It noted that women from these communities are often subjected to sexual harassment and remain diffident and hesitant while deposing before the court proceedings, which are conducted “mostly in male dominated atmosphere” due to presssure, fear and shyness.
“The Committee are of the firm view that the need of the hour is to address this vital issue by setting up special courts for them with women judges and women public prosecutors.
“The Committee, therefore, recommends trial of the crimes under section 4 (k) and 4 (w) of the bill by special courts for women with women judges and women prosecutors preferably belonging to the SC/ST community. For the purpose, the Committee suggests insertion of proviso to this effect in the clause 8 of the bill,” it said.
Section 4 (k) of the bill proposes legal action against those performing or promoting dedication of any SC/ST woman to a deity, idol, object of worship, temple or any other religious institution as a devdasi or any other similar practice. Section 4 (w) proposes the same against anybody, who intentionally touches a SC/ST woman as an act of sexual nature and without the recipient’s consent.
The panel also strongly endorsed all other provisions of the bill, which aims to strenghten the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The bill makes willful neglect of duties by public servants in issues relating to atrocities against the SC and ST a punishable offence.
The bill was introduced in Lok Sabha on July 16 this year and then referred to the Standing Committee by Lok Sabha amid protests and objections from Congress.
The bill states that if a public servant, who is not a member of SC or ST, willfully neglects his duties required to be performed by him under this Act, he or she shall be punished with imprisonment for a term from six months to one year.
The duties of the public servant includes registering a complaint or a FIR under this Act and other relevant provisions and record the statement of the victims or witnesses.
The bill also makes provisions for state governments to establish Exclusive Special Court to try offences under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. (Agencies)
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel