Panel on women safety seeks clarity on its powers

The Committee on Women and Child Safety has written to Chief Minister  and the Home department seeking clarity on the panel’s power on summoning and questioning victims and accused in sexual harassment cases.

Committee chairperson V S Ugrappa told the media on Saturday that the terms of reference of the committee was ambiguous.

He said the committee, which met earlier in the day had discussed the shortcomings of its powers, especially with regard to handling the complaint against Ramachandrapura Mutt seer.

Owing to victim’s allegation that the Girinagar police was trying to downplay the case, the case has been handed over to the CID and the Home Secretary asked to furnish the status of investigations.

The panel has also sought a report from the Health department on the medical test conducted on the victim, as the test conducted by doctors at Kims was in violation of the Supreme Court orders.