Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena on Thursday reiterated the need to increase the percentage of women police personnel in the Delhi Police.
Saxena chaired the 18th meeting of the task force on women safety in the National Capital and issued specific instructions with regards to various agenda items.
At the outset, reviewing the status of Judges’ vacancy in Fast Track Courts for women safety, which was discussed in the 17th meeting of the task force, the LG was informed that there have been progress and 32 Judges have been appointed in these Courts, but there was an acute shortage of Court Rooms for functioning of these Courts.
The PWD informed the L-G that the matter related to construction of CourtRooms was pending with the state government, since 2017-18 and no decision has been taken in this regard till now.
Expressing concern over this delay in a matter as important as pertaining to creation of infrastructure in Courts, the L-G said that he will take up this issue with the Chief Minister so as to ensure completion of the projects at the earliest, so that the objective enhancing the judicial infrastructure with regards to women safety could be achieved.
Similarly, the L-G was informed that replacing the existing PWD street lights with new LED ones and integration of all street lights was pending with the state government.
The L-G took exception to this inordinate delay and directed the PWD to expedite the work and said he would flag this issue as well with the Chief Minister in the next review meeting.
Saxena emphasised upon the need of visible policing, and to this effect issued instructions for enhancing police presence at all times in all localities of the National Capital, particularly on the dark spots and vulnerable stretches.
To this end, the L-G was informed by Delhi Police that nearly 6,000 police personnel including about 3,000 women were expected to be appointed soon, and this, in turn, will ensure a larger police presence in the National Capital.
Saxena also underlined that even as policing could deter crime for achieving the larger goal of women safety and security, a comprehensive change in social mindset and basic approach of men towards women, needed to be brought about.
He stressed upon the need to augment campaigns of sensitising young and adolescent boys through gender workshops and suitably amended curricula by the Education Department and other agencies concerned, with the view of mitigating social mores and practices that encourage objectification of women.
Reviewing the matter of illumination of dark spots and timely repair and replacement of street lights, while expressing satisfaction over the pace of work since the last meeting, the LG took exception that something as basic as street lighting- its installation, repair and maintenance, which should happen in normal course, was being discussed and decided at his level.
Upon being informed by MCD that 1406 dark spots remained to be illuminated, Saxena directed the MCD to complete the work within the committed timeline of one month.
Upon being informed that since the last meeting disposal of the cases by Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), had improved significantly, Saxena informed that he had issued instructions to FSL, Delhi to collaborate with FSL, Chandigarh and FSL, Gandhinagar to expedite disposal of cases.
