Observing that there is a serious public order problem if a woman is not safe in her own neighbourhood, a Delhi court has sentenced a man to a year in jail for misbehaving with his neighbour and beating her up when she resisted.
"Offences against women are on a rise in the city and it is a well known fact that it is a serious public order problem if women are not safe in their own neighbourhood from their neighbours...," metropolitan magistrate Ekta Gauba said.
The court made the observations while sentencing 33-year- old Subhash, a west Delhi resident, to one year in jail under section 354 IPC (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and imposed a fine of Rs 2,000.
The court rejected his plea for release on probation, saying he does not deserve the benefit in view of his offence when crimes against women are on the rise and also considering the fact that he had misbehaved with the complainant on earlier occasions also.
The prosecution case was that on September 10, 2008, the complainant, a resident of Rajouri Garden, was on her way back home from work at night.
Subhash, who lived in the adjoining lane with his wife and aged mother, came to her and caught hold of her hand. He then started behaving indecently with her. When the woman resisted his attempts, he slapped her twice.
The woman was saved by people from the crowd which had gathered there.
She told police in her complaint that prior to that case, Subhash had on two-three occasions chased her and misbehaved with her but she did not file any complaint fearing harm to her reputation.
Subhash, in his defence, told the court that the complainant had enmity with his wife and had implicated him to settle scores.
