To address alarming rise in crimes against women, High Court calls for a 'Social reformation'

New Delhi, Oct 29: The Delhi High Court today termed as "alarming" crimes against women in the capital taking place inside homes and the accused in majority of these cases being near relatives and acquaintances of the victims and said the situation "calls for a social reformation".

A bench of justices Badar Durrez Ahmed and Siddharth Mridul directed Delhi Police and Women and Child Development department of the city government to give wide publicity to this aspect, saying it is a "societal problem" which "must be highlighted".

The court was also of the view that reporting of crimes against women should be made easier and friendly and directed Delhi Police to ensure that a "congenial atmosphere" is created in police stations so that victims can come forward without fear.

It also felt that the quality of police investigation is "unsatisfactory" as it differs from investigator to investigator and said that probe of crimes, especially those against women, "should be made a matter of practice and procedure".

It said that methods like fingerprinting, taking of pictures, making site plans, taking DNA and blood samples and their analysis as well as other scientific methods should be employed and "every investigating team should be equipped with the complete wherewithal to probe a case irrespective of whether the victim is rich or poor".

The bench issued the directions and made the observations after perusing the data submitted by Delhi Police, through advocate Zubeda Begum, with respect to crimes against women in 44 red-flagged areas of the city.

According to data, there has been a "steep rise" in incidents of rape, molestation and eveteasing in national capital since the December 16 gangrape case and majority of these occur inside the victim's house and the accused in most of the cases is a near relative or an acquaintance.

PTI