Centre issues advisory for States and Union Territories to prevent crime against women

Amid the nationwide outrage over Hathras Gangrape case, The Ministry of Home Affairs on Saturday issued advisory to the States and Union Territories to directing them for “mandatory” police action in such cases with compulsory registration of First Information Report (FIR) and that investigations should be completed within two months of reporting of a case.

In the two-page advisory, the Home Ministry’s Women Safety Division highlighted three key sections of the Code of Criminal Procedure that deal with compulsory registration of FIR, completion of investigation in relation to rape within 60 days and a mandatory medical examination with consent of the individual by a qualified medical professional within 24 hours of receipt of information of such a crime.

Besides this, the ministry asked states to ensure the police file a Zero FIR in case the crime against a woman was committed outside the jurisdiction of the police station. A Zero-FIR means that a first information report can be filed in any police station irrespective of place of incident and jurisdiction, which can be later transferred to the appropriate police station. 

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“It is requested that States/UTs, may suitably issue instructions to all concerned to ensure strict compliance with the provisions in the law... also requested to monitor the cases on ITSSO to ensure suitable follow up action,” the notice said. Investigation Tracking System for Sexual offences, or ITSSO, is an online portal available to all law enforcement agencies at national, state and district level to undertake real time monitoring of rape cases.

“However, even with stringent provisions in law and several capacity-building measures undertaken, any failure of police to adhere to these mandatory requirements may not augur well for the delivery of criminal justice in the country, especially in the context of women safety,” the Centre said. It warned of “stringent action” against those who fail to comply with the orders.

The MHA has also mentioned Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the investigation and prosecution of rape against women issued by the Bureau of Police Research and Development, which also pointed to regarding the distribution of the Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kits to states and UTs.

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