‘Society Doesn’t Support Women…’: President Raises Concern Over Women Safety Amid Kolkata Outrage

President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday raised the concern over the lack of support to women survivors of targeted crimes against them, and delay in court decisions in heinous crimes like rape.

While addressing the valedictory session at the National Conference of the District Judiciary, organised to mark 75 years of the Supreme Court, the President said that the delay in such cases forces the common man to think that the judicial process lacks sensitivity.

“It is a sad aspect of our social life that even after committing a crime, the criminals roam around fearlessly. Those who are victims of their crimes live in fear as if their own thoughts have committed many crimes. The situation of women victims is even worse because even the people of society do not support them,” she said.

Her remarks came amid the ongoing protests and nationwide outrage over the brutal rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor in Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital that took place on August 9.

Murmu further lamented that the poor people from villages are afraid to go to court. For them, going away from the village to the court even once becomes a cause of great mental and financial pressure, she said.

“They become a participant in the justice process of the court only under great compulsion. Often they tolerate injustice silently because they feel that fighting for justice can make their lives more miserable. In such a situation, many people cannot even imagine the pain that poor people experience due to the culture of adjournment. Every possible measure should be taken to change this situation,” she said.

Addressing the longstanding pendency and backlog of cases as a big challenge for the judiciary, Murmu said that programmes like special Lok Adalat week should be organised frequently to clear the backlog.

President Murmu stated that judiciary require coordinated efforts from all stakeholders to address the challenges. For instance, issues related to evidence and witnesses should be addressed collaboratively by the judiciary, government, and police administration, she said.

The President said the Constitution provides for the devolving of power and responsibilities of the Legislative and Executive bodies to local level through panchayats and municipalities, and urged those present “if we could think of a justice system at the local level equivalent to these.”

Murmu said that justice delivery in local language and conditions can help country achieve the ideal of justice for all.

Meanwhile, she expressed happiness over the increase in the number of women judicial officers.

The event was attended by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Union Minister of State for Law and Justice (Independent charge) Arjun Ram Meghwal. Murmu also released a flag and insignia of the Supreme Court during the programme.

The Supreme Court organised the two-day National Conference of the District Judiciary on August 31 and September 1. The judges of the Supreme Court, Chief Justices of high courts, Secretary General of the Supreme Court, along with the Registrar Generals of high courts participated in the conference.