Table of Contents
Why in news?
- Data released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) for 2019 puts Rajasthan among top when it comes to rape or attempt to rape
- Between 2018 and 2019, there was a drastic increase of 49.11 per cent in cases of crimes against women in Rajasthan.
Where does Rajasthan stand in crime against women?
- Overall, Rajasthan stood second in crime against women, with a crime rate of 4 per lakh population.
- It is calculated by adding crimes registered under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Special and Local Laws (SLL).
- The list is topped by Assam with 177.8; however, it is one of the smaller states.
- Assam and Rajasthan are followed by Haryana (108.5) and Odisha (103.5).
- The national average is 61.3.
- When it comes to IPC section 376 (rape), Rajasthan again tops the list with an incidence (FIRs registered) of 5,997 and 6,051 victims, translating into a crime rate of 15.9.
- The national average crime rate for rape is 4.8.
- For attempt to commit rape (Sec 376/511 IPC) too, Rajasthan tops the list with an incidence of 1,019 and 1,030 victims.
- Also, the rate of all cognisable crimes in Rajasthan (IPC+SLL) stood at 392.2. Interestingly, Kerala tops the list with a rate of 1,287.7 while the national average is 367.4.
- However, at 8.7%, Rajasthan has the lowest pendency rate with police among all states when it comes to crime against women.
- The national average is 32.4%.
Difference between the 2018 and 2019 figures
- The figures for crime against women (IPC+SLL) for the state increased from 25,993 (2017) to 27,866 (2018) to 41,550 in 2019.
- So while there was an increase of 7.21% from 2017 to 2018, the increase from 2018 to 2019 was a drastic 49.11%.
- Overall IPC+SLL crimes have also shot up drastically.
- While there was an increase of just 1,873 cases between 2017 and 2018, the difference between 2019 and 2018 is of 53,848 cases, or an increase of 21.49%.
Why have the figures shot up drastically?
- Soon after assuming power, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot emphasised the need to mandatorily register an FIR.
- A January 31, 2019 circular by then Director General of Police Kapil Garg, said that “registration of FIR is the fundamental duty of police.”
- In the detailed note, he wrote-
- How an immediate registration of FIR for a cognisable offence “reflects sensitivity and efficiency of police before the complainant,” and
- How a delay in registration of FIR aggravates the pain of the complainant and works to the benefit of the accused.
- The office of the Director-General of Police has, time and again, sent circulars to district police reminding them of January 31, 2019 circular.
- There were a host of other measures undertaken by the government to make the process more transparent.
- On July 1, 2019, the state government also made it mandatory to register every complaint on Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS).
Conclusion
- Registration of more cases doesn’t necessarily mean that crime has increased.
- That also explains why Kerala has the highest rate of cognisable crimes in all of India.
- In Rajasthan, the police department’s campaign to register every complaint has led to an increase in registration of FIRs in the state, and thus the overall drastic rise in figures between 2018 and 2019.
- Earlier people used to approach the courts for registration of FIRs under CrPC 156(3).
- This saw a decline too from 28% (in 2018) to 16% in 2019 end, since cases were being freely lodged by the police
Q) Which of the following statements regarding crimes against Dalits is correct?
1- While Uttar Pradesh is top in absolute number, Rajasthan had the highest number of crimes for every lakh population of Dalits.
2- The lowest conviction rate of crimes against Dalits is in Gujarat.
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 & 2
- None of the above
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