'Ensure punishment for crimes against women'

At a national conference on crimes against women in the City on Tuesday, jurists appealed to women to ensure certainty of punishment to perpetrators of crimes, rather than asking for severity of punishment.

“In a society where crime against women is rampant, it should be ensured that there is certainty of punishment rather than demanding severity of punishment. It is only then can the malice be eradicated,” said M N Venkatachalaiah, former Lokayukta and retired Chief Justice of India.

Quoting the findings of the National Crime Records Bureau that the rate of increase in crimes against women will overtake the population growth in the country, Venkatachalaiah said it was imperative to address the core of the problem.

‘Growth without equality’

He also spoke about the perils of economic growth without gender equality. “Inequality and economic growth is a heady mix as it will lead to a lopsided development of society,” he said.

Justice B N Srikrishna said no amount of legislative and judicial intervention can help in the absence of a radical change in the mindset of society towards women. He said proliferation of laws without their implementation would be of no use at all.

Later in the day, the conference which was organised by the All India Mahila Sanskritik Sanghatan (AIMSS), passed a resolution to support Irom Sharmila, who has been on fast for the past 12 years in Manipur demanding that the government repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from the northeast.

The participants in the two-day conference will be split into groups and batches to deliberate and discuss issues related to crimes against women.