CHANDIGARH: Rape and eve-teasing accused will not be able to draw benefit of all government services excluding ration, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said on Thursday.
Services and benefits such as old age pension, pension for the physically disabled persons, and driving and arms licenses will remain suspended till the court announces its verdict in such cases, he added.
“In case the accused is convicted and sentenced, he will not be eligible for these facilities anymore,” Khattar said at a programme on women’s security and empowerment at Panchkula.
Reiterating his government’s commitment to make Haryana number one state in terms of women’s safety, the CM said a comprehensive scheme in this regard would be launched either on Independence Day or on Raksha Bandhan (Aug 26). Rape victims wanting to hire a lawyer of her choice would be provided financial assistance of Rs 22,000 as fees, he said.
An investigation officer would have to complete probe in one month in rape cases, while the limit will be 15 days in eve-teasing within 15 days, Khattar said. “Failure would result in action against the officer concerned.”
Six fast track courts would be set up in those districts — including two in Faridabad and one each in Gurugram, Panipat, Sonipat and Nuh —where 50 or more cases of rape, eve-teasing and mental harassment are pending in the courts.
“I will be meeting the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to request him to issue necessary directions to the courts for recording the statement of a woman (complainant) on the same day, and not to adjourn the hearing to any other day,” Khattar added.
The CM announced that girl students of classes 9th to 12th would be trained in self-defence. The Chatra Parivahan Suraksha Scheme would be implemented to provide free-of-cost transport facility for girl students. The expenditure on this facility would be borne by the government, he added.