Training Workshop for Police Personnel

 

 

Delhi Commission for Women after a careful study of the cases handled by its Counselling Units felt the need to sensitize the police personnel handling the cases of women in the Central Crime Against Women Cell and District Crime Against Women Cells.  It was felt that it would help the police personnel to understand the problems of the women complainants more seriously in order to alleviate their sufferings.  DCW with assistance from Lawyers Collective held a two-day workshop for police personnel at India International Centre, Lodhi Estate, New Delhi on 24th - 25th July, 2001. 

 

Crime Against Women Cell assisted the Commission in holding the workshop.  The participants were both men and women investigating officers of the ranks of Police Inspectors/ Sub-Inspectors/ACPs, most of whom work in the CAW Cell.

 

 

OBJECTIVES:

  • Facilitate understanding of gender and related issues, including gender dimensions of laws relating to women

  • Help develop an understanding of the constitutional frame work with specific focus on laws pertaining to women

  • Build capacity of the participants to deal with offences against women such as domestic violence and dowry related crimes, by elucidating some of the causes behind violence against women including the cyclic theory as well  by providing information of existing and proposed legislations to address the same.

  • Build skills in investigation procedure

  • Initiate a process of discussions as well as evolution of a protocol for the Cell in dealing with cases of domestic violence.

The speakers, experts drawn from different disciplines, covered a wide range of issues to create an awareness and clarity on gender bias in the law and law enforcement.  The sessions were designed to be interactive to ensure the participation of the police officials and for this the case study method was employed, followed by an open group discussion.  This facilitated the sharing of ideas and experiences among the various players such as police, lawyers, public prosecutors and the Delhi Commission for Women.

 

 

SUBJECT COVERED:

 

The following were the subjects on which detailed discussions were held:

  1. Gender relations in society and family

  2. Constitutional law and women

  3. Section 498 A, IPC-A quantitative and qualitative analysis

  4. Theories of violence and patterns of abuse

  5. A critique on the working of the CAW Cells

  6. Functioning of CAW Cell

  7. Dowry prohibition legislation and related aspects

  8. Effective prosecution of offences against women

  9. History of laws relating to domestic violence, the civil law option to deal with domestic violence, introducing the proposed Domestic Violence Bill .

 

OUTCOME:

 

1.  CrPC should be amended to the extent that

  • in Section 498A burden of proof should be on the accused.

  • instead of quashing proceedings, the accused should be released on probation/acquitted on the basis of evidence instead of condoning cruelty. 

  • if after counselling/reconciliation, the accused again perpetrates cruelty there should be provision for enhanced punishment.

  • mandatory provision for preparation of dowry articles list.

  • provision for rehabilitating/compensation on to victim should be made out of fine extracted from accused or other fund.

  • once a complaint is made and the judge ends the case on compromise between parties, the validity of the compromise should be challenged as a non-compoundable offence does not give any such power, even to the judge who cannot go beyond the parameters of CrPC.

2.  CAW Cell cannot work effectively so the case may be registered in their concerned

    areas.

3. Lady officers may be deployed in police stations.

4. Criminals have some psychological pressure in police station, while he feels at

    liberty in CAW Cells.  So the proceedings should be in the local police station.

5. CAW Cell enjoys powers under Section 406, 498A IPC but not Section 107 and 151

    which can be effected in police stations.

6. It is strongly suggested that CAW Cell should be closed for the welfare of women.

7. CAW Cell should be closed because it has no legal power and cannot work

    effectively.