City NGO to strive for justice to rape victims

PUNE: A city-based NGO Fundamental Rights and Women Empowerment will launch a campaign to make legislative changes in the system and make sure that the rape victims get justice. While speaking in a press conference, advocate Dipti Kale, a member of the organisation, said, “The laws related to rape and sexual harassment should be made strict. Bail, in any case, should not be given to the accused.

For this, we have connected to various NGOs and volunteers from all over the country.”

“Also, all the MPs and politicians are helping us to give justice to the victims. On October 13, we will start our campaign and from villages and others states of the countries we will gather the rape and sexual harassment victims and fight for their justice, as per sections 96 to 100 of IPC, to defend their life and dignity,” she said.

After the #MeToo campaign which is making headlines these days, the organisation is launching a campaign for effective change and implementation of rape laws and deterrent punishment in India.  

They will be meeting officials from the State and Central governments and if they do not respond to them the organisation will appeal in High Court or the Supreme Court.

DEMANDS OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS & WOMEN EMPOWERMENT
- No anticipatory bail, even in consent, unless consent is proven in writing from the victim (as consent is the most misused ground promoting corruption and influence).
- Strict implementation of CrPC, Sec 154 etc., and Sec 166 IPC against police officers and separate procedures and forum for that.
- Proper recording of witness’ statements. 
- No regular bail to accused in case of political or social influence used to threat the victim or witness. 
- Strict action on police for not taking action or refusing to take action on complaint or application of victim. 
- No defiling of character to be allowed by courts by accused lawyers other than documentary proof to deny rape.
- Government pleaders should be required to confer with rape victim and families submitting in court. If a rape victim has no faith, in government pleader, another pleader to be appointed immediately.
- The judicial and police machinery should not be accessible to the political and influential person on phone and all meetings to be subjected to video surveillance and public or press scrutiny.
- Separate investigations machinery to be appointed to investigate charges of judicial or police influence or corruption with separate tribunals for the same.