Prayagraj (ILNS): The Uttar Pradesh government has requested the Allahabad High Court to ensure disposal of cases related to crimes against women and the POCSO Act on a priority basis.
The government, through its Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Kumar Awasthi, made the request in a letter written to the Registrar of the high court.
“It is to inform that during an assessment it was found that from January 1 to September 30 this year, even after a hindrance in judicial system due to the Covid pandemic, the accused in 612 cases of crimes against women were given legal punishment after disposal of a total of 1,835 such cases. In the given time, punishment was given in 151 cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and in 57 rape cases, the accused were given 10 years in jail or life sentence,” read the letter.
The government also sought directions to all district and sessions court judges to ensure speedy disposal of crimes against women and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO).
“A campaign for women empowerment will be organised from October 17 to October 25 in the state. The awareness campaign will aim to strengthen the safety of the women and children,” stated by Awanish Awasthi.
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The Chief Minister of the state has directed officials to set up a help desk for women in every police station and strengthen the Helpline 1090 for women.
-India Legal Bureau