Kiran Bedi gets Kumarappa-Reckless Award

Bhopal, Jan 20 (UNI) Madhya Pradesh High Court Chief Justice Anang Kumar Pattnaik today claimed that empowerment of the common man through the medium of law had led to extremely favourable results.

While speaking as chief guest at the valedictory programme of the three-day 31st All India Criminology Conference, at the National Law Institute University (NLIU) here, he referred to the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, Anti-Dowry Act, Domestic Violence (Prevention) Act and certain others.

Stressing on police reforms, Justice Pattnaik said, ''Judges are aided when legal provisions are made for positive change.'' He bestowed the Kumarappa-Reckless Award on the first woman Indian Police Service officer and Police Research and Development Institute (PRDI) former director Kiran Bedi.

''Police reforms should be implemented forthwith and I urge law students to come forward. I have started a website www.safeindia.com to provide relief to the common man. Media plays a key role in raising awareness,'' said Ms Bedi.

The Chennai-based Indian Society of Criminology's newly-appointed Chairman S P Shrivastav stressed on adequate training of police to combat cyber crime.

Principal Secretary (Law) N K Gupta, Madhya Pradesh Director-General of Police Anand Rao Pawar and several students were among those present.

While inaugurating the conference, Governor Balram Jakhar had pointed out that there was no dearth of laws in society and underlined the need for their proper and timely implementation.

''Irrespective of its kind, crime is a universal problem. Legal experts and criminologists should come forward so that the spiralling problem can be brought under control. Constant review of the criminal justice system is a healthy process,'' he said in a brief address.

Dr Jakhar conferred the Sarvashresht Samajik Shodhkarta Samman on Dr Arvind Tiwari for his role in strengthening the criminal justice system. Dr Mulimani and Dr Lata Subrahmaniam were also honoured.

The governor released a NLIU souvenir.

The National Commission for Women, state Woman and Child Development Department, PRDI and the Indian Society of Criminology cooperated in organising the event.

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