DCW issued notices to 50 police stations in last 10 months

The Delhi Commission of Women has issued notices to over 50 police stations in last 10 months for not reporting the cases of rape and sexual assault to its Rape Crisis Cell.

The heads of 54 police stations were asked to provide a written explanation to the commission as to why the Rape Crisis Cell or Crisis Intervention Centre of DCW was not informed about each incident.

“The specified procedure was not followed in 82 cases.

“The highest number of cases (7) went unreported from Mehrauli police station, followed by 4 cases each from Safdarjung Enclave, Punjabi Bagh and Sarita Vihar police stations,” a DCW official said.

“Among these 82 unreported cases, the victims in 36 cases were minors, and even worse, of these 36 cases, victims in 15 cases were below the age of 13,” the official added.

According to the data available with DCW, in 24 cases out of 82, the CIC counselors were not informed about the case at all. 

In 11 cases, they were informed after the FIR had been registered, while in 45 cases the counselors were informed after an FIR was registered and the medical examination had been completed. In two cases, the counselors were informed before the FIR was registered but after the medical examination was conducted.

According to the guidelines from Supreme Court and Delhi High Court, as soon as a complaint of rape is received, the duty officer receiving the complaint or information shall inform the nearest Crisis Intervention Center/Rape Crisis Cell recognized by DCW. The CIC counselor then professionally handles the investigation of the case by providing support to the victim in registering FIR and medical examination.