HYDERABAD: Expressing anguish and deep concern at the prevailing situation in the country with regard to crimes against women and children, a division bench of the Hyderabad High Court has opined that the executive governments of the states should introspect and take all measures which would effectively curb the menace.
“Incidents of rape and gruesome murder of women and innocent girls should be an eye-opener to the investigating and prosecuting agencies. Unless stringent measures are taken to prevent recurrence of offences against women and children, and efficient investigating and prosecuting agencies are established for securing convictions and appropriate sentences by the courts, no woman or child would be safe and secure in this country,” the bench observed.
The bench further said, “One thought and hoped that at least the Nirbhaya Act, 2013, would have a punitive effect on male monsters in human form. To our disappointment, we noticed that there is a marked rise in sexual assaults against women and even infants in recent times.
The courts have in the past imposed capital punishment in appropriate cases.” The bench made these observations while dismissing an appeal filed by G Bikshapathi challenging a lower court judgment in convicting and sentencing him to life imprisonment for rape and murder of a five-year-old girl at Manoharabad village in Toopran mandal of Medak district.
After hearing the case, HC bench concluded that evidence in case establishes that appellant was guilty. The trial court had rightly convicted and imposed appropriate sentence, bench observed, while dismissing the appeal.