Latest news with #POCSO
Hans India
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
K'taka CM Siddaramaiah pulls up officials over child marriages
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has pulled up the Deputy Commissioners in the state for not keeping tab on child marriages, and slammed the officials for not taking steps and measures to prevent them. Addressing the Deputy Commissioners and Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officers' review meeting on Friday, the Chief Minister questioned: "Why are instances of child marriage not coming to the notice of Deputy Commissioners? Are your subordinates not reporting these incidents to you? If they are not informing you, it implies you lack competence. It also means you have no control over your officials, and they do not fear you." "This year alone, 700 child marriages have taken place, and there have also been reports of girls becoming mothers during childhood. It has come to my attention that FIRs have not even been filed in many of these cases,' he said. 'How can 700 child marriages still be happening so many years after independence? There are laws to prevent child marriage. Yet, in some places, these laws are not being enforced effectively. Isn't this a failure?" the Chief Minister asked sternly. The CM further underlined that this year, 1,395 Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) cases have been registered in the state. Strict legal action must be taken in all such cases. Criminal charges should be filed against the accused, and efforts must be made to ensure appropriate punishment. He further stated that "the maternal mortality rate in our state is higher compared to Kerala". Although there has been a 30 per cent reduction compared to last year, further reduction must be achieved by increasing institutional deliveries, purchasing necessary medical equipment, and enforcing strict measures, he said. The CM further said that priority must be given to providing land for crematoriums and burial grounds. Where government land is unavailable, private land should be purchased and provided. Although strict instructions were already issued to cancel ineligible ration cards, the expected progress has not been made. Currently, about 74 per cent of ration cards in the state are BPL (Below Poverty Line) cards. Ineligible cardholders must be identified and removed so that eligible families can receive the benefits. However, there has not been satisfactory progress in this regard, the Chief Minister observed. Reviewing district-wise data on farmer suicides, the Chief Minister grew furious upon noticing that relief is pending in 13 cases. He demanded an explanation from the concerned Deputy Commissioners. The CM stated that in two districts, including Haveri, a total of 13 farmer suicide cases still await relief. The Chief Minister directed that these cases be resolved and compensation provided as soon as possible.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
35-yr-old man arrested for alleged sexual assault of 7-year-old girl
New Delhi: A 35-year-old man was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a seven-year-old girl in northeast Delhi's Dayalpur, police said on Friday. The accused, a house painter by profession, was previously involved in a similar case registered under the POCSO Act in 2021. According to police, the incident took place on April 3, when the minor stepped out to visit a neighbour to ask about her studies. "The girl returned home crying and told her mother that an unknown man lured her into a hall in a street and touched her inappropriately. She said the man fled upon hearing someone approaching," a senior police officer said. A case under Section 137 (Kidnapping) of BNS and Section 10 of the POCSO Act was registered at Dayalpur police station, and a police team was formed to investigate. Initially, investigating police officers said there were no immediate leads or known suspects. Police scanned CCTV footage from over 250 cameras in and around the area. During the technical surveillance, a photograph of the suspect was extracted from one of the camera feeds. However, attempts to locate him in the immediate vicinity proved unsuccessful, police said. "Police then turned to the dossiers and the data of individuals involved in similar offences over the past five years. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Auvergne-rhone-alpes: Voici l'astuce pour avoir des panneaux solaires sans payer l'installation ! Programme Ecologique Undo A breakthrough came when a match was found; a man resembling the suspect in the CCTV footage was earlier arrested in a POCSO case registered at Jafrabad police station," the officer added. Acting on that lead, the team traced and detained Danish (35), a resident of New Kardampuri in Shahdara. Initially, he denied any involvement, but during sustained interrogation, police said he confessed to the crime. He has since been arrested.
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
‘What if he wasn't Brij Bhushan?' A wake-up call for men's rights in India
Barkha Trehan is an equal rights activist and a strong believer in gender-neutral society. She challenges gender-specific prejudices and stereotypes, advocating for equal justice for all genders within the legal system. Barkha firmly believes in the Indian Constitution, which guarantees rights to all genders without discrimination, and she actively works towards realizing this vision. Key Roles: - President, Purush Aayog - Social Activist - Media Personality - TEDx Speaker - Documentary Director- The Curse of Manhood - Director of the Short Film : One Sided Love • Josh Talk • Hindu Entrepreneur LESS ... MORE The POCSO case against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh was closed by a Delhi court. The case had triggered nationwide outrage and protests by wrestlers. Let's be clear: if the minor retracted her statement, closure was legally inevitable. But why was a man declared guilty in public even before trial? Why was due process discarded for TRPs and political brownie points? 'A man accused is a man destroyed even when acquitted.' Brij Bhushan had political clout, financial muscle, and visibility. He could fight back. But what about the aam purush the ordinary man with no platform, no resources? The salaried man falsely accused in marriage disputes, the young boy framed in college by a rejected proposal, the elderly father battling false domestic violence claims? 'When even powerful men get dragged, what hope does the powerless have?' This case proves that truth must be proved, not presumed. Gender cannot be the benchmark of credibility. 'Today it's Brij Bhushan. Tomorrow it could be your father, your brother, your son.' The damage is done. The POCSO case is closed, but the stigma, the vilification, and the career cost stay. The other harassment cases remain under tria if they too fall, who will return his reputation? India cannot continue this witch-hunt of men in the name of women empowerment. It's time to stop the misuse. It's time for a Men's Commission. It's time for equal rights. For real justice. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Hindustan Times
Delhi: Man sentenced to 20 years in jail for raping minor daughter
A court here has sentenced a man to rigorous imprisonment of 20 years for repeatedly raping and having unnatural sex with his 13-year-old daughter, saying that the victim was going through a never ending ordeal, where years after the crime, she feared that if her father were sentenced, she would be blamed by society. Expressing abject disappointment, Additional Sessions Judge Anu Aggarwal, in an order dated May 28, said the girl was subjected to the most heinous crime within the four walls of her home by her father, to whom she had bestowed her utmost trust. On May 19, the court had convicted the man under the POCSO provisions for committing aggravated penetrative sexual assault and under the penal provisions for rape, unnatural offences and criminal intimidation. During the arguments on the quantum of sentence, Additional Public Prosecutor Arun K V said the convict deserved no leniency for the horrific crime, where he raped his daughter for over 20 days. The court said, "For a child, home is a space that gives him a sense of security, love and affection; a place where the child is nurtured, and is the most relaxing place for a child. The relationship between father and daughter is such that under the father's shadow, the daughter feels safe and secure." It said that, however, at times, a children's most cherished place became a place where they were "subjected to the most heinous crime" and in the present case, the girl was raped by "a person, on whom she bestowed her utmost trust." "After hearing the victim, it seems that this ordeal is never-ending for her. She was subjected to the most heinous offence and was not only raped but was also subjected to unnatural sexual assault. However, even after passing of seven years, the victim is still afraid that if her father is sentenced to jail, she will be blamed by everyone in society,' the court said. It then sentenced the convict to 20 years rigorous imprisonment under Section 6 (aggravated penetrative sexual assault) of the POCSO Act. The court also awarded ₹16 lakh compensation to the victim. The case came to light on June 30, 2018, after the victim narrated the crime to a neighbour, who then informed police. Upon investigation, the police visited the victim's residence, where the minor girl recounted her ordeal. At the time, the girl, aged 14, was studying at a madrasa in Lucknow. During her summer vacation in June 2018, her father brought her to the national capital. Initially, they stayed at her paternal aunt's house, following which he rented a separate room, where the crime was committed.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Entire complexion of Delhi HC is changing': Justice Dharmesh Sharma, who held Kuldeep Sengar guilty in Unnao rape case, retires
Terming it a positive change, Justice Dharmesh Sharma of the Delhi High Court said Friday that 'the entire complexion of the HC is changing' with 'so many outsiders coming'. He was speaking at a farewell organised for him by the Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) ahead of his official retirement on June 8, when the court will be on vacation. The remarks come at a time when the Supreme Court Collegium headed by Chief Justice of India B R Gavai on May 26 recommended the transfer of three judges to the Delhi High Court, including Justice Nitin Sambre of the Bombay High Court, Justice Vivek Chaudhary from the Allahabad High Court, and Justice V Kameswar Rao, who is being repatriated to his parent high court of Delhi from Karnataka High Court. Incumbent Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya too took charge in January after being transferred from the Bombay High Court. As a judge of the trial court and the special court to hear cases under the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act, Justice Sharma had in 2019 held former BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar guilty of rape of a minor girl in Unnao in 2017. Stating that he will join the Bar 'soon', Justice Sharma said, 'A lot many things are happening, if I'm allowed to say. The entire complexion of the (Delhi) HC is also changing and…sometimes now this high court is looking like an IPL franchise because so many outsider players are coming and (will) come in future. I think it's a good thing…' 'I don't know how to end my note because it is a little emotional for me… I'm thankful… The justice delivery system needs some overhauling, some changes, yes. You may please bring about some objectivity to whatever is happening around… We can do more about it,' he added. Speaking at the full court farewell reference of Justice Sharma, Chief Justice Upadhyaya said on Friday, 'He was deeply involved in the institutionalising of legal aid framework, infrastructure development and streaming of various legal awareness programmes across the Capital…He is known to be a judge of great practical wisdom and he always remained oriented to grant relief to litigants in the court.' Justice Sharma had, in September 2024, dismissed a petition by the Shahi Idgah (Waqf) managing committee opposing the installation of a Rani of Jhansi statue inside the Shahi Idgah Park in Sadar Bazar and sought that the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) be restrained from such encroachments. Earning his law degree in 1987, he practised at trial courts in Delhi, mainly in civil matters. He was also appointed as the additional standing counsel of the Centre during this time before joining the Delhi Judicial Services in 1992. After serving a little over a decade, he was elevated to the Delhi Higher Judicial Services in August 2003. From 2017-19, he served as a principal judge of the family court and was later appointed as principal district judge of New Delhi till he was elevated to the Delhi High Court in May 2023. He served as secretary of the Delhi High Court Legal Services Committee during 2007-08 and also as member secretary of Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA) during 2014-17.
