Several lawyers protested outside the Saket Court Complex here where the charge sheet against the gang-rape of the 23-year-old medical student was filed on Thursday, demanding a fair and speedy trial besides fixing responsibility of senior police officers in the case. Although the protest call was given by the Pragatisheel Mahila Sangthan, a group representing women’s struggle on various issues, several male lawyers at the court also joined in.
“At a time when there is a sense of injustice and insecurity at the growing rate of depraved violence against women, there is a need to sensitise all police officers,” said Poonam Kaushik, the president of the lawyers’ unit of the Sangthan who justified the anger across the country against the incident. She said protests were driven by the demand of swift justice for “India’s daughter”.
Ms. Kaushik added that the organisation had decided to observe January 3 as ‘All-India Protest Day’ and that similar protests were held in Govindpuri, Mayapuri, Sagarpur and other parts of the Capital by the members of the Sangthan protesting against the incident and the low conviction rate in rape cases.
She pointed out that the reaction of the political class has been hypocritical as they give tickets to rape accused but have been at the forefront when it comes to demanding harsh punishments such as hanging and castration of the accused in this case.
Asked if the Saket District Court Bar Association’s resolution against any lawyer representing the five accused in the case could hamper fair trial, Ms. Kaushik, who herself is a member of the association, said the decision had been taken by the executive committee and the lawyers’ unit of the Sangthan does not support the decision.
