Cases of Crime Against Women

As per National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, a total of 2,03,804; 2,13,585 and 2,28,650 cases of crime against women were registered during the years 2009, 2010 and 2011 respectively. The disposal and pendency of court cases on crime against women fall within the domain of judiciary. Giving this information in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Shri Salman Khurshid, Minister of Law & Justice, said that police and Public Order being State subjects under the Constitution, primary responsibility of prevention, detection, registration, investigation and prosecution of crimes, including the crimes against women, lies with the State Governments/ UT administrations. The Government of India ha been advising them from time to time to give special attention to crimes against women. Ministry of Women and Child Development in Government of India has issued a detailed advisory dated 4th September 2009 to all State Governments/ UT Administrations which inter-alia includes setting up of Fast Track Courts.

Shri Khurshid said that besides continuous efforts to bring down the pendency of cases, Government has enacted a number of legislations for the protection of women. The review of these laws is carried out from time to time for amendments to improve their effectiveness as well as to bring about new legislations, whenever required. The protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act was enacted in 2005. A Bill for Protection of Women against Sexual Harassment at Workplace, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 7th December, 2010. Further, amendments in the Code of Criminal Procedure (Cr PC) were carried out in the years 2005 and 2008 to strengthen the law for prevention of crime against women and to safeguard the interests of women.