A Parliamentary panel today recommended setting up of special courts with women judges and public prosecutors for trial of cases of sexual harassment of SC/ST women and strongly endorsed provisions of the bill to prevent atrocities against the scheduled castes and tribes.
The recommendation was made by the Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment chaired by BJP MP Ramesh Bais, which examined the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill, 2014, which was referred to it in July after being introduced in the Lok Sabha.
The report of the panel was tabled in both Houses of Parliament today.
Making a strong pitch for special courts for women, it said that the Committee is "seriously concerned" about the rising crimes against women belonging to the SC/ST community.
It noted that women from these communities are often subjected to sexual harassment and remain diffident and hesitant while deposing before the court proceedings, which are conducted "mostly in male dominated atmosphere" due to presssure, fear and shyness.
"The Committee are of the firm view that the need of the hour is to address this vital issue by setting up special courts for them with women judges and women public prosecutors.
"The Committee, therefore, recommends trial of the crimes under section 4 (k) and 4 (w) of the bill by special courts for women with women judges and women prosecutors preferably belonging to the SC/ST community. For the purpose, the Committee suggests insertion of proviso to this effect in the clause 8 of the bill," it said.
