Rosy Sequeira TNN

Third Interim Report Submitted To High Court 
Mumbai: The Dharmadhikari committee, in its third interim report to the state government, has suggested restrictions on social networking sites as they “corrupt adolescents”. 
A copy of the January 16, 2013, report with 31 recommendations was submitted to a Bombay high court division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice Anoop Mohta on Thursday. The committee, headed by retired high court judge Chandrashekhar Dharmadhikari, was constituted by the government to recommend measures to curb atrocities against women.
The panel has recommended enlisting men who train at akhadas and gymnasiums for protection of women. “This must be given serious thought,’’ it said.
The report in Marathi says there should be restrictions on “networking, Facebook, mobile phone and vulgar and indecent conversations and exchange of pictures”. The trend has increased among adolescents, which has been revealed by a recent survey, the report said. Another measure to ensure women’s safety, it said, would be to publish and upload on websites names and details of people convicted by courts for atrocities on women.
It suggested putting up such details on an independent website and social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. “This is mainly to create awareness and prohibit such crimes,” the panel said.
The committee also recommended prosecution of those who witness atrocities but do nothing. The report said some people do not inform the police on helplines and remain mute spectators, which helps criminals. “Being a mute spectator is a crime. Such persons should be considered as accused and similar provisions should be in the law to consider them as so. It seems crimes take place due to silent consent of such people,’’ it said. The report stated that the Constitution mentions that it is the duty of every Indian to protect women. It recommended amending section 39 (public to give information of certain offences) of the CrPC and sections 177 (furnishing false information) and 202 (intentional omission to give information by person bound to inform) of the IPC.
Also suggested was a ban on advertisements depicting women indecently. The committee mooted an independent authority to ensure laws are implemented.
It suggested thought be giving to one-sided talaaq, as expressed by the SC and it felt political parties should not give tickets to candidates involved in offences against women.
DHARMADHIKARI REPORT IN HC

•The Dharmadhikari panel, appointed by the state to suggest steps to ensure women’s protection, has submitted its third interim report

•It wants curbs on networking sites like Facebook, cell phones, vulgar chats and sharing of photos as they “corrupt adolescents’’

•Says details of people convicted for atrocities against women should be uploaded on websites

• Suggests law to make stalking and blackmailing serious offences

Maha govt tells court it is making women feel safer 
Mumbai: The Maharashtra government told the Bombay high court on Thursday that it was taking steps to make women feel safer and said now there was a central ordinance making offences, including molestation, assault and even stalking, non-bailable.
A division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice Anoop Mohta was hearing a clutch of public interest litigation for the safety of women. Advocate-general Darius Khambata submitted that Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance 2013 promulgated on February 3, 2013, has made several Indian Penal Code sections non-bailable.
Advocate Rajiv Chavan for Help Mumbai Foundation earlier told the court that the third interim report of the Dharmadhikari committee has been submitted and was under the government’s consideration. “This period should not be too long,’’ he added.
Khambata submitted that counseling centres have been established, including helpdesks in offices, of the commissioner and superintendent of police. To the court’s query on whether people manning the desks were sensitive enough, he replied that the government was trying its best but cannot guarantee the behaviour of individuals. “In a given case, if any complaint is brought to our notice, we’ll replace such persons,’’ said Khambata.
The judges have asked the government to state how many women officers are there in police stations across Maharashtra. They have also asked the railways to state why it was unwilling to pay the state for women home guards to be deployed on railway stations, pending recruitment in the RPF. The next hearing is on February 28.