Maliwal to PM: Set up task force in 15 days

New Delhi: Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chairperson Swati Maliwal has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to set up a special task force to create a plan in the next 15 days for establishing fast track courts and deploying additional police resources in the next three months for handling rape cases. She also expressed deep anguish and pain at the growing incidents of “communalisation of rapes.” She said that earlier such incidents were rare, but now the religion of the victim has suddenly become important.

Thanking the Prime Minister for approving an ordinance to allow courts to award death penalty to those convicted of raping children up to 12 years of age, Ms Maliwal cautioned that the ordinance will not lead to any real change on the ground unless it is ensured that all rape cases are tried within six months. She added that for this there is an urgent need to strengthen the resources.

In the ordinance, which received presidential assent on April 22, the deadline for the completion of trial in all rape cases will be two months. A six-month time limit for the disposal of appeals in rape cases has also been prescribed.

The DCW chief observed hungerstrike for 10 days at Rajghat till April 22 and ended it after President Ram Nath Kovind promulgated the ordinance.

In her letter, Ms Maliwal has requested the PM to uphold the decision of the Cabinet — that fast track courts and special police resources will be created in the next three months in the country specifically for handling rape cases.

A senior officer said that the Delhi Commission for Women chief has requested the Prime Minister to set up a special task force across the states consisting of the highest representatives of the Centre, states, and judiciary to create a plan in the next 15 days for creation of new fast track courts and provision of additional police resources for handling rape cases.

The officer said, “She has requested that a meeting of the Union home minister, Chief Justice of Delhi high court, lieutenant-governor, chief minister of Delhi, police commissioners, and Delhi Commission for Women be called urgently to create a plan for increasing police resources and fast track courts in the national capital.”

Ms Maliwal has raised concerns in the letter against the growing incidents of “irresponsible” statements by politicians and people in power on rape cases and requested the Prime Minister to take urgent action against such people. The DCW chief requested the Prime Minister to take strict action against such people who are communalising rape in the country. She has also sought an appointment from the Prime Minister to discuss these issues in detail.