Women's delegation seeks uniform law to curb eve-teasing

A delegation of women on Thursday met Maharashtra Governor K Sankaranarayanan and demanded a "uniform" law in India to curb eve-teasing in educational institutions, places of worship and other public places.

During the meeting at Raj Bhawan, the Governor expressed serious concern over the incidents of crime against women, particularly against minor girls, an official said. Terming the situation as "very sad", the Governor called for stricter implementation of the existing laws and early dispensation of justice. "We don't want justice to be delayed. If justice is delayed, people lose their faith in the system," the Governor said. He stressed the need for parents to educate children about respecting women.

 

The delegation told the Governor that there were 3,794 cases of molestation and 1,071 cases of eve-teasing/sexual harassment registered in Maharashtra in 2011.

Members of the delegation said that at least 80 per cent of women facing eve-teasing or sexual harassment do not register a complaint with police due to various reasons.

Mentioning that 27,787 molestation cases and 8,436 cases of eve-teasing/sexual harassment were still pending trial in Maharashtra, the delegation demanded enactment of a law prohibiting eve-teasing and harassment of women in the state. The delegation demanded capital punishment for the rape convicts, setting of fast-track courts to try all crimes against women, steps to enhance conviction rate in cases of crime against women, implementation of the Justice Dharmadhikari Committee Report appointed by the state government to suggest measures to check atrocities against women.