Srinagar, Oct 11 (KINS): Amid a raging controversy around recent crimes against women in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras and a few other places in the country, the Centre has issued an advisory to all states and union territories (UTs) directing them to take mandatory police action in such cases.
Besides recommending compulsory registration of first information report (FIR), the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) advisory said the investigation should be completed within two months of reporting of a case.
The advisory said any failure on the part of the police to adhere to the mandatory norms in crime against women “will be inquired and necessary action will be taken immediately against the officers concerned”. The advisory reads: “It is requested that the states and UTs may suitably issue instructions to all concerned to ensure strict compliance with the provisions in the law relating to crime against women.”
The states and the UTs have also been asked to monitor the cases on the Investigation Tracking System for Sexual Offences to ensure suitable action is taken on the chargesheet against the accused in a timely manner. The advisory came days after a 19-year-old Dalit girl was allegedly gang-raped by four men at Hathras, leading to her death. Such crimes have also been reported from Jharkhand, Rajasthan and other states.
The ministry also referred to its 2019 advisory on “failure to record information under sub-section (1) of Section 154 of the CrPC punishable under Section 166A of the IPC”. The MHA referred to another advisory issued on December 5, 2019, regarding timely and proactive action in cases of crime against women.(Tribune)
