Upholding death penalty, SC woman Judge calls for change in mind set

The Supreme Court on Friday said that a comprehensive change in the mind set was required to deal with increasing crime against women as stringent law and punishment were not enough to win the battle for gender justice.
 
Justice R Banumathi, who was a part of the bench, that upheld the death penalty to four convicts in Delhi's infamous gang rape of 23-year-old girl of 2012, suggested for making gender equality as part of the school curriculum.
 
“The battle for gender justice can be won only with strict implementation of legislative provisions, sensitization of public, taking other pro-active steps at all levels for combating violence against women and ensuring widespread attitudinal changes and comprehensive change in the existing mind set,” she said, in a separate verdict.
 
The court cited National Crime Records Bureau report on ‘Crime in India 2015’ indicating a total of 3,27,394 cases of crime against women in 2015, an increase of over 43% since 2011, when 2,28,650 cases were reported.
 
A change of 110.5% in the cases of crime against women has been witnessed over the past decade (2005 to 2015), meaning thereby that crime against women has more than doubled in a decade. An overall crime rate under the head, ‘crime against women’ was reported as 53.9% in 2015, with Delhi UT at the top spot.
 
“Offences against women are not a women’s issue alone but, human rights issue,” the court said, adding increased rate of crime against women is an area of concern for the law-makers.
 
This situation points to an emergent need to study in depth the root of the problem and remedy the same through a strict law and order regime. There are a number of legislations and numerous penal provisions to punish the offenders of violence against women. However, it becomes important to ensure that gender justice does not remain only on paper, the court added.
 
In order to to fight increasing crimes against women, Justice Banumathi said, “In our tradition bound society, certain attitudinal change and change in the mind-set is needed to respect women and to ensure gender justice. Right from childhood years’ children ought to be sensitized to respect women. A child should be taught to respect women in the society in the same way as he is taught to respect men.”
 
“Gender equality should be made a part of the school curriculum. The school teachers and parents should be trained, not only to conduct regular personality building and skill enhancing exercise, but also to keep a watch on the actual behavioural pattern of the children so as to make them gender sensitized,” she said.
 
The court further said the educational and government institutions, and other employers must take steps to create awareness with regard to gender sensitization and to respect women. Sensitization of the public on gender justice through TV, media and press should be welcomed.
 
Justice Banumathi gave a few suggestions on practical side for consideration of the government like putting up banners, placards in the public transport vehicles like autos, taxis and buses etc, use of street lights, illuminated bus stops and extra police patrol during odd hours, police or security guards at dark and lonely places like parks, streets etc.
 
“Mobile apps for immediate assistance of women should be introduced and effectively maintained. Apart from effective implementation of the various legislation protecting women, change in the mind set of the society at large and creating awareness in the public on gender justice, would go a long way to combat violence against women,” the court said.