Andhra Pradesh and Telangana Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan on Saturday underscored the need for strengthening the legal process to effectively deal with crime against women. Addressing the second day deliberations of the National Women’s Parliament (NWP) at Pavitra Sangamam near here, Mr. Narasimhan, a former IPS officer, advocated the need for change in laws to prevent filming of women in distress.
The Governor said setting up of special courts for trying cases of violence and atrocities against women was the need of the hour. The cases should be disposed of, preferably in four weeks. Exemplary punishment should be awarded in crimes against women. Letting off the accused because they were juveniles was a wrong percept. A crime was crime and should be dealt with accordingly.
The Governor also found fault with media which broadcast certain incidents, especially crimes against girls and women, repeatedly. What was the Censor Board doing, he asked. The crime scenes against women in films or the electronic media should be snipped. “I think we should go for legislation in this regard.”
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Mr. Narasimhan said society also had an important responsibility. Many times people take photographs of poor and hapless women, he said and wondered what their motive was. “Those who film women in distress should be made abettors and co-conspirators to the crime as they are not stopping a crime. Why film hapless women without helping them.”
Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly Speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao chaired the session attended among others by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Telangana Legislative Assembly Speaker Madhusudana Chary and Delhi High Court Chief Justice Rohini.