10 special courts to try crimes against women

Proposal sent to Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka government will soon set up 10 special courts exclusively to try cases relating to atrocities and crimes against women, Home Minister K J George announced in Bangalore on Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters, George said the government has already sent the proposal to the Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court. The move was necessary to ensure speedy trial and conviction of  those involved in crimes against women, such as the culprits in the Manipal gang-rape. Provisions of the new Anti-rape Bill (Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill-2013), which provides for stringent sentence for rape convicts would be invoked, he added. Investigations into the Manipal gang-rape case were on in full swing, George said and expressed confidence that the police would nab the culprits soon.

“We have given a free hand to the local police. Eight squads have been formed and investigation is moving in the right direction,” he observed.

On the ‘failure’ of the police to nab the culprits even five days after the incident that too in a small town like Manipal, the minister said, “We have to give the local police some time as investigations have to be done properly. I cannot set a deadline. If they fail, then we will deploy a special team from Bangalore,” he said.

The minister said the victim was brave and recovering fast. “Initially, she was not in a position to give much information to the police. Now, she has started to speak,” he said. On Pejawar mutt seer Visveshateertha swami criticising the delay in arresting the culprits, George said he was ready to receive suggestion from anyone.

He said the guidelines prepared by the Home department to be followed by universities for ensuring safety of their girl students would be dispatched to the varsities soon. The guidelines will specify the security measures including installation of CCTV cameras and increasing the strength of security staff on the campuses, he said.

Guidelines for bars

George said that within a week the government will come out with guidelines for bars which employ women to serve liquor. “The Home secretary and the Director General and Inspector General of Police are working on it and will soon be sent to the chief minister for approval,” he added.

The minister said the government was not averse to such bars, but they should function within the purview of the law.

The government will immediately cancel the licences of establishments, including discotheques and video game parlours, which indulge in illegal activities, the Home minister  warned.