Question : Safety of Women

(a) whether it is a fact that inspite of different Action Plan of the Government, there is no steady improvement or decline in rape cases in the country and crime against women has risen over 25 percent against 2017;

(b) whether it is also a fact that the conviction rate for rape was just 27 percent in 2018;

(c) if so, the reaction of the Government thereto;

(d) the present status of Fast Track Special Courts (FTSC) being set up as a part of the National Mission for Safety of Women (NMSW); and

(e) the pending cases under the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018 and POCSO Act., State-wise?

(a) to (c): ‘Police’ and ‘Public Order’ are State subjects under the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India. The responsibilities to maintain law and order, protection of life and property of the citizens including investigation and prosecution of crime against women and children rest with the respective State Governments. The State Governments are

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L.S.US.Q.NO.217 FOR 02.02.2021


competent to deal with such offences under the extant provisions of laws. However, the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) compiles and publishes information on crimes in its publication “Crime in India”. The published reports are available till the year 2019. State/Union Territory (UT)-wise details of cases registered under Rape (Sec 376 Indian Penal Code) during the period from 2017 to 2019 does not show any uniform trend. Conviction Rate for Rape cases during the period from 2017 to 2019 also does not show uniform trend both for All India and State/UT-wise.

(d): The Department of Justice has approved a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for setting up of 1023 Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) across the country for expeditious trial and disposal of pending cases related to rape and cases booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012. A total of 609 FTSCs including 331 POCSO Courts are functional.

(e): As per Crime in India 2019 published by the NCRB, State/UT-Wise details of cases pending investigation under POCSO Act, 2012 is at Annexure-I. State/UT-wise total number of cases pending investigation under crime head Murder with Rape/Gang-Rape, Rape and Assault on Women with Intent to Outrage her Modesty is at Annexure-II.
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