Highlighting the rising societal concern over crimes committed against women, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday stressed importance on delivering speedy verdicts in such cases, noting that it would enhance and ensure the safety of women in the country.
Speaking during the National Conference of District Judiciary, commemorating 75 years of the Supreme Court, the Prime Minister said that atrocities against women and the safety of children were serious concerns for society.
He highlighted the multiple laws already implemented in the country for the safety of women. Modi mentioned the fast-track courts law enacted in 2019, which established witness deposition centres and district monitoring committees.
He said it was important to ensure that these committees were further strengthened to deliver faster verdicts in cases involving women’s safety.
The Prime Minister further underscored the importance of timely justice, noting that faster the decisions were made in cases related to atrocities against women, the greater assurance of safety half the population would receive.
The remarks by the Prime Minister followed a letter from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, reiterating her call for stringent Central legislation and severe penalties for heinous crimes such as rape and murder.
In the backdrop of the brutal rape and murder of a post graduate trainee doctor at in a Kolkata hospital, Banerjee expressed her frustration over the lack of response from the Prime Minister to her previous correspondence on this critical issue.
In response to the letter, the Central government defended existing laws as adequate for addressing such crimes, urging the state to implement them effectively.
During the event, the Prime Minister also highlighted the initiatives taken over the past decade to reduce delays in justice delivery and enhance judicial infrastructure, stressing the government’s commitment to improving the safety and security of women and children nationwide.