Parliament Panel summons Home Secy, Delhi Police chief

The Standing Committee on Home Affairs has summoned Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar and Union Home Secretary R K Singh to explain the growing incidence of violence against women in Delhi. They have been asked to appear before the committee on December 27 here. BJP MP Venkaiah Naidu-led panel is also studying the working of the Delhi police.

The senior officials will be questioned on the steps taken by the government to curb these incidents. Sources said the MPs would also question them if the current laws need amendments to make them stringent. The officials will brief the committee on the progress made in the investigations, and the existing infrastructure dedicated to maintain law and order here. The panel would study the existing laws and suggest changes to tackle the menace.

“All members, cutting across party lines, expressed concern when this issue was discussed in the Parliament. There are four important issues. There is a need to sensitise police system to take expeditious action on these issues. Political will and administrative preparedness is necessary,” Naidu said in Hyderabad. “Some changes need to be made in the laws as well. Fast-rack courts should be set up and Evidence Act can be changed. There is a suggestion that in-camera trial should be conducted in such cases. Also, there is an opinion that death sentence should be awarded to the convicts. We will take the views of officials and give our recommendations to the government,” he added.

The 30-member parliamentary panel has leaders from all the parties. They include L K Advani, Satish Chandra Mishra, Janardan Dwivedi, Kanimozhi, Lalu Prasad, Naveen Jindal and Sandeep Dikshit.