Delhi Police orders charge sheets in rape cases within 20 days

Under fire over women's security following the December 16, 2012 gangrape incident, Delhi Police in a landmark decision today announced that charge sheets in rape cases will be filed within 20 days to ensure speedy justice to victims.
"Crime against women is a big concern for us and we will try our best to curb them. We have issued an order today that says particularly in rape cases, charge sheet would be filed within 20 days," Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi told reporters here.
"If not, it will be brought to the notice of the Joint Police Commissioner with reasons of the charge sheet not being filed (within 20 days).

"And if the charge sheet is not filed even after 30 days, then it will be brought to the notice of Special Commissioner (Law and Order) and Special Commissioner (Crime) explaining the delay and then these officers will bring it to the Commissioner's notice in a consolidated way," he said.
The step has been taken to ensure speedy justice to victims of rape as in the past, activists have accused police of delaying investigations in these cases. As per law, investigators get 90 days to file a charge sheet in a rape case.
Bassi said the department will write to the education department to introduce self defence training as a compulsory subject for girl students of the age between 5-7 years.

"Delhi Police will write to the Director of Education to include 'self defence training' as a compulsory subject for girl students aged between 5-7 years so that by the time they attend the age when they could be vulnerable, they are prepared to defend themselves," he said at Delhi Police's annual press conference.
Last year saw a steep hike in offences against women with molestation and rape cases rising alarmingly by 412 and 129 per cent respectively.