Directions : Read the following passage and answer the questions.
Significantly, Section 166A IPC makes it an offence for a police officer to refuse to register an FIR in cases including acid attacks, rapes, disrobing or even outraging the modesty of a woman. There is no dearth of laws or precedents including from the Supreme Court giving extensive guidelines to alleviate the plight of victims. Yet there is rampant and undeniable systemic failure.
We raise our voices against visible crimes. It’s now time to raise our voices against the innate crimes that have made our systems impotent and allow the most upright to support vigilante justice. Let’s treat the disease and not the symptoms. Vigilante justice cannot be the balm- it is the rot in the system that can only harm citizens and their rights further.
Parliament introduced time-bound processes to expeditiously dispose of commercial cases. Strict adherence to time-bound processes; accountability for violations, be it failure to register FIR’s. or delay in trials or in completion of the last stage of appeals and mercy petitions; well defined-and easy to follow processes against violators, be they police or others in the system; special fast track courts; processes ensuring confidentiality, privacy and dignity to victims; timely financial assistance and job opportunities or rehabilitation of victims- these are the solutions that are the need of the hour.
Surprising excuses have been mouthed for explaining abject failure to ensure sufficient representation of women in judiciary. It is now time to set aside excuses and ensure effective action. Women in judiciary alone may not be an answer but it may possibly improve processes. Speedy justice but in the right way-through court systems-would send the right message and possibly act as deterrent, not vigilante justice. That way, every single victim of rape can have “ointment to her wounds” and come forth with confidence to fing justice.
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