India
PIL: Make laws and punishments to curb crimes against women – Times of India
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday sought responses from the Centre and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) on a PIL filed by criminal lawyer Aabad H Ponda, which had sought widespread awareness of the stringent provisions of the amended rape laws prescribing severe punishments as a measure to crimes against women.
Referring to the rape and murder at RG Kar Hospital, senior advocate Ponda told Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and a bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra that most people did not know what rape entailed and what were the consequences of committing this heinous crime.
He argued in court: “While courts cannot be questioned on how they deal with rapists, the real problem lies in how rape can be prevented. Repeated rapes in the county are not a good sign of good governance and effective implementation of the law.”
Ponda said society hoped that every time a woman was sexually assaulted, law enforcement agencies would hold the perpetrator accountable and the courts would impose exemplary punishment as a deterrent against such crimes. But in practice, nothing changed.
Referring to bills passed by West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, which propose mandatory death penalty for rape-murder, he said: “Despite the laws against rape being made stricter after Nirbhaya, this crime only seems to be increasing.
Ponda said it should be made mandatory for all schools to teach children about the drastic consequences of rape. He said filmmakersPrint, electronic and web-based media should repeatedly emphasise the severe punishment for rape.
Referring to the rape and murder at RG Kar Hospital, senior advocate Ponda told Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and a bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra that most people did not know what rape entailed and what were the consequences of committing this heinous crime.
He argued in court: “While courts cannot be questioned on how they deal with rapists, the real problem lies in how rape can be prevented. Repeated rapes in the county are not a good sign of good governance and effective implementation of the law.”
Ponda said society hoped that every time a woman was sexually assaulted, law enforcement agencies would hold the perpetrator accountable and the courts would impose exemplary punishment as a deterrent against such crimes. But in practice, nothing changed.
Referring to bills passed by West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, which propose mandatory death penalty for rape-murder, he said: “Despite the laws against rape being made stricter after Nirbhaya, this crime only seems to be increasing.
Ponda said it should be made mandatory for all schools to teach children about the drastic consequences of rape. He said filmmakersPrint, electronic and web-based media should repeatedly emphasise the severe punishment for rape.
