Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: In the wake of the horrific rape and murder of a woman doctor at a government hospital in Kolkata, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday called for expedited verdicts in cases involving crimes against women. Highlighting the urgent need for stronger legal measures, PM Modi underscored that atrocities against women and the safety of children are critical concerns for society.
Speaking at an event in New Delhi marking the 75th anniversary of the Supreme Court, the Prime Minister remarked, “India has several laws addressing women’s safety. In 2019, we enacted the fast-track courts law, which led to the creation of witness deposition centres. District monitoring committees also play a vital role in this system. It’s imperative that we strengthen these committees and ensure faster verdicts in cases related to women’s safety.”
PM Modi emphasized that swift decisions in such cases would significantly enhance the sense of security among women. “The quicker the judgments in cases of atrocities against women, the greater the assurance of safety for half of our population,” he added.
The Prime Minister’s remarks came just a day after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee sent a second letter to him, reiterating her demand for more stringent central legislation and exemplary punishment for heinous crimes like rape and murder. Banerjee expressed her disappointment at not receiving a response to her earlier communication on this sensitive issue.
Responding to Banerjee’s concerns, the central government reiterated the sufficiency of existing laws to tackle such crimes and urged the state to enforce them rigorously. Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Annapurna Devi, stated, “If the state government follows the central legislation in letter and spirit, it will have a lasting impact on strengthening the criminal justice system, ensuring that perpetrators face consequences commensurate with their crimes, and providing justice to victims or survivors.”
At the Supreme Court event, PM Modi also highlighted several initiatives taken over the past decade to reduce delays in delivering justice and to improve the judicial infrastructure, further reflecting the government’s commitment to a more efficient legal system.
