Except for ration, an accused in rape or sexual harassment case in Haryana will now lose all government facilities such as old-age pension, pension for the physically disabled persons, driving and arms licence.

These services will remain suspended till the court announces verdict in the case. In case the accused is convicted and sentenced, he would not be eligible for these facilities anymore.

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announced these decisions at a programme on women’s security and empowerment, organised under the Ek Aur Sudhar Programme in Panchkula on Thursday.

Virtually issuing a warning to the perpetrators of crime against women in the state, the CM reiterated the commitment of his government to make Haryana number one state in the country in terms of safety of women.

He said a comprehensive scheme for the safety of women would be launched either on the Independence Day or on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan on 26 August 2018.

Khattar said in case a rape victim wanted to hire a lawyer of her choice other than the one provided by the state government, she would be provided financial assistance of Rs 22,000 to pay the fee.

Provision of uninterrupted investigations in cases of rape and eve-teasing would be made at all police stations, he said. The investigation officer would have to complete the probe into rape case in a month, and in eve-teasing within 15 days, otherwise action would be taken against him/her, the CM said.

Six fast-track courts would be set up in those districts where 50 or more cases of rape, eve-teasing and mental harassment are pending in the courts. These include two in Faridabad and one each in Gurugram, Panipat, Sonipat and Nuh.

“I would shortly meet the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to request him to issue necessary directions to the court to record the statement of a woman on the same day, and not to adjourn the hearing to any other day,” he added.

Khattar announced that girl students of classes 9th to 12th would be given training in self-defence. Instructors for imparting training would be appointed in such girls’ schools which have more than 50 students in 9th and 10th classes.

The Chatra Parivahan Suraksha Scheme would be implemented to provide free-of-cost transport facility for girl students, he said.

Khattar said to ensure a safe and secure atmosphere for girls and women during the night, 2,100 new posts have been sanctioned exclusively for night patrolling for which 1,000 ex-servicemen have been recruited as Special Police Officers (SPOs) two months ago only for night patrolling in Gurugram.

Apart from this, special patrolling would also be carried out in those areas in daytime also where girls and women stay alone in their houses.