Judge tells police officers not to judge women
Division bench of justice Ranjana Desai and justice Mrudula Bhatkar had earlier sought details of deployment of lady police officers in the city during the hearing of this case.
Police officers received a piece of advice from the Bombay high court on Monday. “When a woman comes to lodge a complaint against a man, there should not be any apprehension that she must have had an affair with that man. You [police] need to find out the facts before making up your mind,” remarked justice Ranjana Desai.A division bench of justice Desai and justice Mridula Bhatkar was hearing a petition filed by Kavita (name changed), a girl from a remote village of West Bengal, who has alleged that she was forced into prostitution by one Rajesh Rajput about 10 years ago.Kavita had alleged that despite her repeated attempts, Malwani police station did not register her complaint. Kavita also alleged that when she approached the Malwani police station in 2005, the then senior inspector Suryavanshi (now an ACP) refused to register her complaint.“On very first day, you should have listened to her complaint. There was no female officer in the police station. How will women be treated in absence of female cops?” observed the court.The court on Monday ordered all officers from the Malwani police station to find Rajput’s antecedents. All the officers were directed be present in the court on Monday.“We want all the information about Rajesh Rajput. Tell us what action you are taking against Rajput,” the court remarked.Kavita’s lawyer Anand Jondhale also informed the court that Kasturba shelter home, where she has been placed at present, does not have proper basic facilities. The court has now directed the authorities to shift Kavita to Shradhashram Mahila Ashram (Matunga).The court also directed additional public prosecutor Poornima Kantharia to seek instructions from the police commissioner about the presence of female officers in city police stations.