ThePrint asks:
Five years after Jyoti Singh’s death, why is Delhi still the rape capital?
The Jyoti Singh (Nirbhaya) case was a watershed moment in the history of the criminal justice system in India, particularly when it comes to offences against women. I happened to be the Commissioner of Police, Delhi, and had to face the onslaught of the public wrath, as well as media inquisition following the unfortunate and barbaric incident. The Delhi Police, braving all odds, solved the case in record time. The prosecution that followed was unprecedented and within a year we had obtained a conviction of all the accused.
Remarkable changes in the legal system were made on the recommendations of the Justice Verma committee, which criminalised offences like stalking, eve teasing, sexual harassment etc. It is only natural that reported cases of offences against women have since increased.
The perception that Delhi is the rape capital of India, however, does not stem only from high incidence of reported cases. It is more on account of the day-to-day experience of women. This arises from the general approach of men towards women in the northern belt. We should never lose sight of the fact that the sex ratio is abysmal in these parts and traditionally women have been oppressed both at home and outside.
Here are other sharp perspectives on why Delhi remains India’s rape capital:
Kalpana Vishwanath, researcher on urban safety and gender
Swati Mahiwal, Chairperson of Delhi Commission for Women
Considering that a majority of offences against women occurs in private spaces like homes, institutions and workplaces, and not in the public realm, the police are at a disadvantage. Their role becomes indirect, and is often perceived to be a delayed response, which it is not.
In the wake of Jyoti Singh’s death, several path-breaking measures were taken to alter the approach of the police towards women complainants. It was made mandatory that if a woman comes forward with a complaint, it has to be registered. Earlier, the police officer would try to counsel the woman, citing a breakdown of familial relationships, thereby attempting to dissuade women from lodging such complaints. This changed post December 2012. Domestic sexual abuse, which used to be considered a ‘ghar ki baat’, was now brought into the public sphere.
However, the bulk of the police forces comprises of men, and most of them come from the same hinterland. There is a need for a continuous re-evaluation of their attitude.
Neeraj Kumar is former police commissioner, Delhi