(a) whether there has been an increase in the cases of dowry deaths and domestic violence
against women;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the total number of such cases reported, accused arrested,
convicted and the action taken against them, separately during each of the last three years
and the current year, State-wise; and
(c) the steps taken by the Government to stop such cases along with the advisories issued to
the State Governments in this regard?
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI R.P.N. SINGH)
(a) & (b) As per data provided by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), the total number
of Cases registered (CR), cases chargesheeted (CS), cases convicted (CV), persons arrested
(PAR), persons chargesheeted (PCS) and persons convicted (PCV) in the cases of dowry deaths
and domestic violence against women during 2010 – 2012 is given in Annexure I and II respectively.
(c) The President of India on 2nd April, 2013 has consented to the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act
2013, which have come to force since 3rd Feb, 2013, on crimes against women. The Government has
amended various sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure, the Indian
Evidence Act to strengthen provisions of legislations for crimes against women
# In Section 154 of Cr. P.C., a proviso has been inserted to provide that the information
provided by a woman victim of acid attack, sexual offences against women or rape shall be
recorded by a woman police officer or any woman officer. It further provides that in case
the woman victim is temporarily or permanently mentally or physically disabled, such information
shall be recorded by the police officer at the residence of the person or at any convenient
place, in the presence of a special educator or an interpreter. The recordings of such
information shall also be videographed.
# The amendment in SSction 160 Cr. P.C. (regarding the powers of police officer to require
attendance of witness) provides that women or any male person under the age of 15 years or
above the age of 65 years or a physically or mentally disabled person shall not be required
to give personal attendance as witness at the place other than his or her place of residence.
# The amendment of section 161 Cr. P.C. provides that statement of women victim of sexual
offences including the offence of rape shall be recorded by a woman police officer or any
woman officer.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has sent several advisories to all States/UTs requesting them
to take all necessary steps in order to prevent all forms of crimes against women.
(i) Advisory on Crime against Women-Measures needed to curb issued on 04.09.2009; wherein they
have been, inter-alia, advised to adopt appropriate measures for swift and salutary punishment
to the persons found guilty of violence against women and children, improve the quality of
investigations, minimize delays in investigations of crime against women and children, set up
‘Crime against Women Cells’ in districts, advised to undertake gender sensitization of the
police personnel, special women courts and initiate steps for security of women working in night
shifts at call centers. Majority of the States/UTs have established ‘Women Cells’ and appointed
Protection Officers. Some States/UTs have also set up ‘All Women Police stations’ at district
level and ‘Mahila /children help desk’ at police station level
(ii) The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued an advisory on 22nd April 2013 whereby the States/
UTs were requested to raise the women representation in Police to 33%
(iii) Advisory on Registration of FIR irrespective of territorial jurisdiction and Zero FIR was
issued on 10.05.2013
(iv) Advisory on Compulsory Registration of FIR u/s 154 Cr.P.C when the information makes out a
cognizable offence on 05.02.2014
A daylong conference of Chief Secretaries and Director Generals of Police on crimes against
Women was held in New Delhi on 4th January, 2013. The representatives deliberated on various
measures of crime prevention, women safety, changes on law, organization, investigation
processes and expeditious trials to improve safety and security of women.