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Saving Gudiya – Laws, Rights of Victim, Role of Govt, Judiciary, and Society
It is seen in numerous cases of rape/sexual assaults, which we come across as lawyers, that victims experience confusion and uncertainty about what to do, what to expect and the logic behind each of the steps in the pre-trial as well as the trial stages. The lack of legal orientation, guidance creates enormous anxiety, leading to undue exploitation for gaining elementary legal information. Simple things as, providing FIR on time, providing companion during deposition or providing compensation or, free medical treatment are not made available.
To counter this exploitation, in this series of articles (Part 1,2 & 3), the author will endeavour to inform in brief, the law regarding rape, how it has evolved through judicial decision, legislative enactments/ amendments, and executive instructions.
The articles will focus on the special care which needs to be taken concerning the rights of the victims, by the Authorities and the Society.
The series of articles will also discuss different guidelines for sensitizing those who will come in contact with the victim. The problems faced by the victims (both pre and post-trial) and solutions to these problems also will be attempted.
Part -1 –
Victim, FIR & Medical Examination
The Victim
Rape victims deserve more from the legal system and society than just a prosecution. Rape causes a tidal wave effect on a victim’s life. The profound emotional, physical, economic, and social harm to the victim affects a broad range of life activities. The response to rape should be to
- prevent the acute trauma of rape from triggering a long-term, downward economic and social spiral for the victim. and
- to preserve the integrity of the victim’s privacy and social relations.
28 studies of women and girls aged 14 and older who had had non-consensual sex obtained through force, threat etc found that 60% of these victims didn’t acknowledge that they had been raped.
The major reason for this is “fear of stigma” and also “the body’s automatic response to trauma”. The victim needs time to acknowledge what’s happened to them.
Many Centres which are made for the survivors note that majority of the cases are reported much after the actual assault took place. Studies show that many victims, dropped the case, to protect their privacy, and ensure their emotional and physical safety.
The job of the responsible society is to support the victim and be sensitive to her mental and emotional needs throughout various stages of recovery.
FIR
The author wishes to start with giving a brief outline of settled law regarding FIR and Medical Examination which are the first steps after the assault. This is a critical stage where the victim is vulnerable, traumatized, stigmatized, and in need of immediate support. This topic is made the starting point, having in mind the alleged Shimla rape case and its present status.
The different processes in the pre-trial stage include the registration of the FIR, the medical examination, arrest, S.164 statement to the Magistrate and cognizance, all must proceed promptly one after the other.
Registering an FIR is the first step in the process of setting the criminal justice machinery into motion officially. Without an FIR, criminal redress cannot be obtained. This is done under S.154, of the Criminal Procedure Code of India.
The Law, Know Your Rights;
- It is mandatory for a police officer to file the FIR, failing which he may be punished with imprisonment for 2 years.
- Police cannot blame the victim for her condition,
- Police cannot encourage the victim to reconsider or compromise the case.
- In case the complainant approaches a police station within whose jurisdiction the offence does not fall, the police station can still not refuse to register the FIR. As per Advisory No. 15011/35/2013-SC/ST-W, issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, they must take down the complaint as a ‘Zero FIR’, and then forward it to the relevant police station. The complainant is also entitled to a free copy of the FIR.
- FIR, cannot, in any condition be prompted by the police.
- Victims have to be provided with a copy of the FIR, it is her statutory right.
- Police have to record the Experience of victims on getting her FIR registered, the police’s dealing with her can be probed into by the courts at the appropriate stage
- Police have the duty of Informing the victim, the procedure and her rights, at every stage and in all her dealings with them.
Medical Examination
The medical examination follows the registration of the FIR. The purpose of the examination under the amended law is to
- Provide first aid to the victim,
- Psychological counselling to cope with the trauma associated with the assault,
- Recording bodily injuries and condition for evidentiary purposes.
The Guidelines and Protocols for Medico-Legal care for victims of sexual violence, provide comprehensive instructions for the medical practitioner, family and the justice system.
A rapport must be established between Health professionals dealing with the case and the victim. Further, the medical examination must also include psychological counselling to help her cope with the aftermath of the assault, including in relation to the social and cultural notions of stigma and shame, within her family or community.
The Law, Know your Rights;
- An enabling atmosphere should be created and trust be established and the victim should be informed of all available resources, referrals, legal rights.
- The first step is to obtain informed consent/refusal from the victim for every step of medical examination and provide first aid
- Absence of signs of struggle DOES NOT signify consent.
- In cases of adolescents, age also needs to be verified.
- Whether drug/alcohol was administered has to be tested.
- If the victim is female then female doctors are to be preferred. For a transgender, the choice should be given to the victim.
- Police are not allowed in the examination room, however, a relative can be present if the victim so requests.
- Medical treatment is the first priority. A special room must be made available to maintain privacy. The hospital should not insist on admission until there is a requirement of observation/treatment.
- All services to victims should be free of cost, medicines prescribed must be available in the hospital, or the victim must be compensated.
- A copy of all documentation must be provided free of cost.
- While performing a forensic examination a medical opinion has to be formed on whether a sexual act was attempted or completed, whether it was recent and any harm has been caused to the victim’s body.
- If the victim comes to the hospital on their own without filing a report, it is the duty of the doctors to inform the police and provide medical treatment.
- A per-vaginum test or the 2- finger test should NOT be carried out and the status of the hymen is irrelevant to the factum of the sexual act. (More on this in subsequent articles)
- A urine pregnancy test has to be performed and blood has to be collected for HIV status and other tests etc. The type of evidence would change depending upon: nature of sexual violence, time lapsed between the incident and the medical examination, whether the victim has bathed/washed.
- Testing should be done for sexually transmitted infections.
- Emergency contraception may also be given.
- Victims should be informed of follow-up services and all follow-ups should be documented.
- Psycho-social care must be ensured and first-line support is offered.
- If the victim reports with a pregnancy resulting from an assault she is to be given the option of abortion and protocols of MTP are to be followed.
- Stages of the examination should be explained.
- To address the victim’s emotional wellbeing crisis counselling must be encouraged. Suicidal tendencies must be assessed. Friends and family should be involved in the healing process of a victim. Reactions and the range of feelings which are common after a traumatic experience must be explained.
- Safety assessment must be done, and if the survivor is unsafe alternate arrangements to stay must be offered. If not, a safety plan must be made.
Health professionals should engage with family and friends to discuss ways of promoting a survivor’s well-being.
The medical examiner has to pack, seal and sign over the evidence to the police. One copy of all the documents has to be given to the victim. The hospital must ensure a designated staff.
Sexual assault victims should be understood as suffering from a myriad of brutal consequences that impact their civil wellbeing and they are at risk of re-victimization by the criminal justice process. Lawyers scholars, media must step forward and take up their struggle, and support them by sensitizing all relevant actors in society.
The next part will deal with the Legislative reforms, Court cases, and other stages of the trial.
(The post was first published in https://lawumbrella.wordpress.com/ )
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PIL Filed in HP High Court Re-Ignites Quest for Recognizing Pahari (Himachali) as Hill State’s Official Language
Shimla- November 10, 2021, Himachal Pradesh High Court on Monday passed an order concerning a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking to recognize Pahari (Himachali) as an official language of the state. The petition also sought effective steps on the part of the government to preserve and promote the Pahari language in the State as its culture and language give it a distinct identity.
The Public Interest Litigation was filed by Arsh Dhanotia with a prayer that the state be directed to declare Pahari (Himachali) as one of the official languages in the State of Himachal Pradesh in any script and also promote further research towards a long-term formal Pahari (Himachali) nuclear language structure and nuclear Tankri script.
Bhawani Pratap Singh Kutlahria, the advocate for the petitioner, argued in the court that the State Government be directed to promote Pahari (Himachali) and other local languages as the medium of instruction in primary and middle-level schools as per the New Education Policy, 2020. On behalf of the petitioner, he also prayed the court to direct the state government to include Pahari (Himachali) language as a separate category for the 2021 Census and simultaneously undertake an awareness campaign to create awareness amongst the masses, especially the youth of the State who speak Pahari (Himachali), to get it marked as their mother tongue in the upcoming Census.
A bench of Chief Justice Mohammad Rafiq and Justice Sabina while disposing off the PIL stated,
“The direction as has been prayed for, cannot be issued to the State Government until and unless it is established on record that the Pahari (Himachali) language has its own script and that a common Pahari dialect is spoken throughout the State of Himachal Pradesh. We, however, set the petitioner at liberty to approach the Department of Language Art & Culture to the Government of Himachal Pradesh with his demand for undertaking research to promote a common Pahari (Himachali) nuclear language structure and nuclear Tankri script. If the petitioner approaches the respondents-State through its Additional Chief Secretary (Language Art & Culture) to the Government of Himachal Pradesh) for the prayer made in the Civil Writ Public Interest Litigation, it would be for the said authority to consider the same in accordance with the law.”
Additionally, the petition had emphasised that Sanskrit, which is the second official language of the state, had only 936 speakers according to the 2011 census and Pahari (Himachali) dialect chain which is spoken by more than 40 lakh people was being neglected and has not been made an official language even after having so many speakers.
The petition also highlighted works of Former Chief Minister Late YS Parmar and Former Education Minister Late Narain Chand Parashar towards the promotion of the Pahari (Himachali) language.
What’s Pahari (Himachali) Language, How Many Districts It Covers
It is to be noted that according to the petitioner, Pahari (Himachali) is a combined term used for the Western Pahari dialect chain spoken in Himachal Pradesh and majorly includes Kangri, Mandeali, Chambeali, Kulvi, Mahasu Pahari and Sirmauri. According to him ever since the creation of Himachal Pradesh, there has been a demand for recognition of Pahari (Himachali) under the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution and it is also officially listed with 37 more languages as a language which is in significant demand to be included in the scheduled languages category.
In his plea, he also stated that the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha in 1970 and 2010 have also passed resolutions concerning the promotion and development of Pahari (Himachali).
Environment
Himachal’s Snow Covered Area Has Decreased, Poses Big Threat to State Economy’s Lifelines: Report
Shimla-The area under snow cover in Himachal Pradesh has declined by 18.5% according to a recent report published by State Centre on Climate Change (SCCC) and Space Application Center (ISRO) Ahmedabad. The report revealed this decreasing trend for the five major river basins in the State.
As the report points out, the high altitude regions of Himachal Pradesh receive precipitation mainly in the form of snow during the winter season. One-third of the geographical area of the state is covered by a thick blanket of snow during the winter season. Rivers like Chenab, Beas, Parvati, Baspa, Spiti, Ravi, Sutlej and its tributaries flowing through Himachal are dependent on snowfall in winter. These rivers mainly feed into the Indus water system and a decline at this rate rings a death knell for water and also food security for millions of people from Himachal to Kashmir, the plains of Punjab, the food bowl of the country.
Using images and data received from satellites, the report states, that the winter precipitation was mapped in all the basins from October 2020 to May 2021 (a period of two years). The findings indicate that there has been an average decrease of 8.92 percent in Chenab basin, 18.54 percent in Beas basin, 23.16 percent in Ravi basin, 23.49 percent in Sutlej basin compared to last year. The ice covered area of Chenab basin was 7154.11 sq km in 2019-20, which has come down to 6515.91 sq km in 2020-21. Similarly, Beas basin was reduced from 2457.68 to 2002.03 square kilometer, Ravi basin from 2108.13 square kilometer to 1619.82 square kilometer and Sutlej from 11823.1 square kilometer to 9045 square kilometers. Overall, the snow covered area was reduced from 23542 square kilometer to 19183 square kilometer in the entire Himachal.
Sutlej Basin covers 45 per cent of the total geographical area of Himachal and it is the longest river of the state. It flows for around 320 kms here, passing through Lahaul and Spiti, Kinnaur, Shimla, Kullu, Mandi, Solan and Bilaspur districts, along its course. The above study shows that the maximum reduction in snow cover has occurred in the Sutlej basin. An area of 4359 square kilometers under snow cover has decreased for the whole state, of which more than half of the Sutlej Basin.
Just two years ago another study had indicated that more than half of glaciers in Sutlej Basin are set to vanish by 2050. Yet another study also showed that the Sutlej basin has the highest 562 number of glacial lakes. These lakes stand the risk of sudden outbursts, which then causes flash floods downstream as the valley has already experienced. So, while the crisis that is unfolding, be it deglaciation, lake formation or reduction in area under snow cover, it seems that the Sutlej river basin is more vulnerable to these changes.
Prakash Bhandari, an environmental researcher and activist and member of Himdhara Collective expressing his concern states that the situation in the Sutlej river basin is certainly indicative of a serious climate emergency and it is critical to look into the drivers of this both local and global.
“The Sutlej basin catchment is the largest and so the changes visible here are more significant. Many factors have worked together to create this crisis which should be studied closely. There is no doubt that global warming is contributing to these changes. But the local conditions also play a role in reducing or increasing its impact”, he says.
The upper reaches of the Sutlej Valley, especially areas like Kinnaur are geologically fragile, with sharp gradients and loose soil strata. Vegetation is in a very small area so the proneness to erosion. We have seen the catastrophic impacts of flashfloods and landslides over the last decade and a half, where crores worth of property has been damaged. This year saw a spate of landslides where lives were lost. “In such a sensitive and also strategically important area, changes in the landscape will have far reaching and irreversible impacts. More construction activities will lead to more deforestation, more erosion”.
Construction of dams has been rampant in the Sutlej valley, a phenomena that started post independence and continues today. If all of the planned dams are built the Sutlej will be cho-a-cloc with more then 150, large and small projects. At the bottom of the valley in Bilaspur is the Bhakra Dam, built almost 6 decades ago, which has a size of 168 sq km and a storage capacity of 9.340 cubic km. Is. This is followed by the Kol Dam which extends for 42 km up to Sunni, which has a total storage capacity of 90 million cubic metres. Nathpa Jhakri Project which is 27.394 kms. is long. When a dam is built, a huge amount of water is stored. The debris of many villages, trees etc. also gets absorbed inside the dam. When water is stagnant, it receives heat from the Sun to form mist in the surrounding area by evaporation and simultaneously generates methane gas. The experience of the lake formed by the Kol dam at Tattapani in Mandi district shows that the area is experiencing heavy haze which was not there earlier.
“In the 30s and 40s, Shikari Devi and Kamrunag used to have snow on the peaks for about 6 months, which now could barely stop for only 2 months. The air route distance of Shikari Devi and Kamrunag is only 26 to 30 kms from Tattapani lake. At the same time, their distance is not much from the cement factories of Darlaghat, Sundernagar”, the elders in the area say. “Today, fog is prevalent and this has also made the area warmer”.
Due to the warming of the weather due to the clouds formed from the mist, the snow has started melting quickly. Apart from this the local crop patterns are affected. Post the 1990s, the Sutlej became a site for run of the river hydroelectric projects using extensive underground tunneling. This involves massive use of explosives for blasting through the mountains. Of the 23,000 MW worth of projects to be constructed in Himachal more than 10,000, a third are from this valley alone. Kinnaur continues to be a hydel powerhouse with 10 run of the river projects in progress and 30 more to be set up including two mega projects of 1500 MW and 1000 MW each. This paints a scary picture.
Interactive Sutlej River-Basin Map indicate Hydropower Station location
It is not just the hydro-electric dams but unplanned tourism and other development activities like mining, cement plants, road expansion and mindless construction across the high Himalayan regions have also add to the shift in local weather patterns, land use changes and thus the ecological crisis. But the reason why we should put the limelight on hydropower is that this is being pushed as “Green Energy”, in the name of climate change mitigation. As opposed to other forms of generating power, hydropower projects are said to cause lesser carbon emissions, which is why there has been a global push to shift to renewable resources. But the climate emergency in the Himalayas has put a question mark on ‘water’ as a renewable resource.
The question then arises that with all this data indicating a steady decline in river discharge and snow cover have our planners and policy makers not considered what will happen to these projects? Will they be able to generate the power they propose to? The people of Himalaya have to wake up to this wastage of public resources. Scarce funds should be diverted to better planning for securing local livelihoods by protecting the forest ecosystems and water sources for the future.
Author: Gagandeep Singh-From Himdhara (Environment Research and Action Collective)
Feature Images: unsplash/@raimondklavins
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Himachal: Warnings of Delta Plus Virulence Fall on Deaf Ears, No Restriction on Visitors from Affected States
Shimla-Yesterday, the Centre government directed the state governments to take immediate measure in wake of the spread of more infectious Delta Plus variant. As the Delta Plus variant is posing a threat of the third wave, the states were told to take steps like preventing crowds, increase testing, more focus on surveillance, contact tracing and put boosting vaccine coverage on a priority basis. Following it, Himachal Pradesh Government might have announced an alert over Delta plus variant, but there wasn’t any follow up on instructions passed by scientists and health experts to take strict restrictive measures ahead of the impending third wave.
To make it worse, high rank officials and political leaders were seen flouting Covid-19 SOPs on several occasion, which sent wrong messages to the masses. The pictures and videos showing flouting of Covid appropriate behavior by Chief Minister Jairam Thakur and Directorial General of Police, Sanjay Kundu, alongwith other staff for Anupam Kher is the most recent to mention. A group photograph and video of the same were widely circulated on social media and invited huge criticism from the people.
So far, the state has not reported any case of the Delta Plus variant. But the neighboring states – Punjab, Haryana, and Jammu & Kashmir – reported their first cases yesterday. This puts the boarding areas, like in Una district, at a higher risk. Chief Secretary to HP Government, Anil Khachi, yesterday said samples have been sent for genome sequencing.
Despite repeated warnings of Delta plus variant (B.1.617.2.1.), Himachal Pradesh has thrown its borders open to all and lifted all restrictions for inter-state travel in just one go. From June 23 onwards, the state government removed the condition for registering on the e-pass portal for visitors intending to enter the state. In the Cabinet meeting held on June 22, 201, the government first decided that e-pass restrictions would be removed from July 1, but later it changed the decision and instead implemented it immediately.
This haphazard decision is said to have come under huge pressure from the hospitality industry – the worst-hit sector, leading to financial crisis and mass unemployment among its stakeholders. Related associations had been approaching Chief Minister Jairam Thakur with their pleas to provide relief, but mostly faced disappointment. The stakeholders say the state government didn’t provide any significant relief, which is making the survival of the industry difficult.
Also Read: Read Eight Reliefs That Himachal’s Devastated Tourism Industry Seeks from HP Govt
Also, stakeholder of the industry, especially hoteliers, had been demanding the removal of restrictions and conditions on the entry of tourists to Himachal so that they could fetch the remaining peak tourist season.
With its inability to offer relief, the HP Government took the chance to waive off restrictions in a haste.
At the same time, the state government has decided to conduct offline examinations for the undergraduate classes starting from July. A section of the students had been condemning the HP government for scheduling exams without vaccinating students. Some student bodies had been asking the government as to why online classes were possible but not online exams.
The state government also waived off restrictions on timings for the opening of markets/shops.
As scientists and health experts warn of the virulence of the new variant and with neighboring states already on alert after reporting cases of the new variant, the HP government hasn’t even mentioned any intention to at least put a check on the visitor from the states where cases of Delta Plus are being reported. Carrying an RT-PCR negative report for visitors from such states/cities would have been a wiser step.
Officially, the state is on alert, but no measures have been announced to check the entry and spread of the variant into the state. The state government does speak of preparing for the anticipated third wave, but there is hardly any long-term preventive strategy. The Covid appropriate behavior is hard to adopt when markets and tourist places are crowded with visitors.
Why Delta Plus is a Big Concern
The World Health Organization (WHO) has labelled the Delta variant as ‘Variant of Concern’.
The Centre and scientific/medical institutes in India also agree with that Delta Plus as a variant of concern and could be the cause of impending third wave. Last Tuesday, based on the findings of INSACOG, the Union Health Ministry had alerted and advised Maharashtra, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh regarding the Delta Plus variant of COVID19.
INSACOG had warned that the Delta Plus variant has increased transmissibility, stronger binding to receptors of lung cells, potential reduction in monoclonal antibody response.
“Delta variant is more resistant to medication, treatment and vaccination. Therefore, people who have been vaccinated can still be affected by this variant and can go on to get a clinical illness, Archana Dhawan Bajaj, director, Nurture IVF, told a national English Daily.
“Neutralising antibodies against this variant post-vaccination seem to be nearly five times lower in people who have already been vaccinated than the other variants,” she said.
Further, Dr Raman Gangakhedkar, ex-Head Scientist of Epidemiology and communicable diseases, ICMR, has also expressed concern over the reports that Delta Plus has reported pathophysiologic change and affecting different organs. Dr Raman says that it could transfer from cell to cell and would more likely produce neurological symptoms as a common manifestation.
So far India has reported 51 cases of the Delta Plus variant.
Delta Plus variant is a variant of Delta with an additional mutation -B.1.617.2.1.