From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Feb 28: Persons convicted in rape and sexual assault cases are in for abolition of their voting rights and even suspension of voting rights during trial, if a recommendation of the Karnataka Legislature Committee on Women and Child Safety is accepted.
The legislature committee headed by Senior Congress MLC V.S. Ugrappa, in its final report, has recommended suspension of voting rights during trial and abolition of voting rights of persons convicted in rape and sexual assault cases.
The committee, which was set up in 2014, in its voluminous 3,000 page report finalised its report on Wednesday.
The mega report to be submitted to the government has harsh recommendations for all those facing trial and convicted in rape and other sexual assault cases.
In case of failure to pay compensation to the victim, the panel recommended handing over of the property of the accused to the victim.
Ugrappa, who spoke to reporters in Bengaluru on Wednesday, said the committee toured all 30 districts and heard grievances of hundreds of different type of cases, including sexual abuse, acid attack, atrocities on women belonged to vulnerable sections of the society.
He said the committee recommended keeping in abeyance all government facilities/benefits during trial and abolition of availing such facilities/benefits under various schemes to convicted persons.
The committee noted that facilities were not provided to victims under various government schemes.
Nirbhaya Fund’s utilisation poor
The much-hyped Nirbhaya Fund has not been utilised effectively despite the tall claims by the State government on women’s safety and welfare.
The committee held 134 meetings during the last four years and found that most of the rape and sexual abuse cases were reported in poor families belonged to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe while dowry cases were found in middle class and upper middle class families.
The panel members suggested to the State Government to recommend to the Centre to formulate a national policy on women and child safety for increased conviction rate in the country.
The Centre should come out with a policy to suspension/abolition of voting rights to convicted persons, Ugrappa explained.
Conviction rate better than national average
The present conviction rate in the State was just 4-5% against the national average of 2.8%.
Though the situation is better in the State when compared to the national average, Ugrappa felt much more needed to be done if the safety and security of women was to be assured.
The panel, which had submitted its interim report on December 30, 2015, held managements of educational institutions responsible for atrocities against women and children in their premises besides directing government departments that monitor them.
With regard to malicious prosecution/fake cases, the committee recommended recovery of compensation amount along with rate of interest.
The committee has covered all sections of women in the community, including devadasis and transgenders.
Comment on this article
Vineet, Mangalore
Thu, Mar 01 2018If you have guts talk about a stringent law that enables speedy trail, fair Judgment and Capital punishment to the culprit which is missing at large under the current corrupt LAW.
Don't be fool, the rape convict does not care about voting rights though. He is not the loser.
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vivek, hirebyle / Abu dhabi
Thu, Mar 01 2018what will be the English translation of this Minister Name....☺☺☺☺
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Flavian, Mangaluru/Kuwait
Thu, Mar 01 2018If at all, you want to do good and justify the punishment for the Rapists, please recommend and demands for capital punishment. Death by hanging and not further delaying the death sentence. No mercy, no leniency no Tears just blast such anti society elements.
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Beowulf, Mangalore
Thu, Mar 01 2018One question.
Will the rapists be allowed to contest in election???
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Anilkumar, Mangalore
Thu, Mar 01 2018What a question!!!!
If they are not allowed to contest in election, half the politicians will be out of job.
These committees have no thinking power. Use the Chinese or Islamic law and see that these rapists are eliminated from earth. No one will dare to do such crimes in future.
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shaji, Calicut
Thu, Mar 01 2018Some what good move. But i suggest to take rights of vote + right to contesting election + right on the property etc for people who are convicted of rape, murder, molestation, robbery, corruption, bank looters, public money looters, politicians who are spreading communal disharmoney, politicians who give illogic / illegal / unrealistic / communal comments / speech. This may have some effect.
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Namith, Kottara
Thu, Mar 01 2018iT WILL BE A BIG BLOW FOR CONGRESS THEN
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Vincent Rodrigues, Bengaluru/Katapadi
Thu, Mar 01 2018They should be jailed and perished in the prison for ever for the crime committed
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Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai
Thu, Mar 01 2018BJP will lose 50% Votes ...
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Thyampanna, Mangalore/Dubai
Thu, Mar 01 2018you voted bjp last time then?
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Rampanna, Udupi
Thu, Mar 01 2018Mr. Ugrappa, if you are serious in curbing rape/sexual offenses, then create a system where every potential culprit knows that he will be apprehended and convicted. And sorry to say, a conviction rate of <5% does not arouse that confidence in me. And I am sure that even those persons who have been convicted are from the lowest strata of the society.
Such a low conviction rate is a clear-cut case of INCOMPETENCE / CORRUPTION of the police and prosecution team. And Mr. Ugrappa has the audacity to claim that the conviction rate in state is better than the national average!! Shame on you.
The system that let a person like Nalapad run havoc for long time in centre of Bangalore, how could we suddenly expect that every victim of rape / sexual offence will have a fair go?
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NN, NN
Thu, Mar 01 2018The rape accused can run for elections, but they cannot vote. The recommendation should bar every rape accused from running for any kind of election or holding any kind of public sector positions until he comes clean out of court. That is called recommendation. Who cares if the voting rights are suspended and how it will impact on their behaviour.
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Rita, Germany
Thu, Mar 01 2018What our Ugrappanna says is not a serious thought.who bothers nowadays when one lose voting rights?many are not going to vote after making serious thought about value of their vote.might be because of someone offered money ,sari,or some alcohol.Many simply think let our party comeup,or other party has not given us anything.Only few know the value of their votes.Rapists are bothered about their moments fun,to make woman cheaper.Aman who respects a woman never go to the extent of rape,but even save her from others .Best is to give severe punishment to rapists ,make them pay compansation to victim.
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Krishnaraja, Dubai
Wed, Feb 28 2018Why every congress men are keen to decrease party vote share?
Tgey are nig vote bank of congress
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Lakshmi, Mangalore
Wed, Feb 28 2018Good decision. That will reduce harassment to women by BJP rowdy gangs.
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Ramesh S, MANGALORE
Wed, Feb 28 2018..what!!..be practical , what will happen if a rapist or sexual offender lose voting rights? anything will change...and UGRAPPA & commitee working on this since 2014 !! & prepared 3000 page report!!..there are lakhs of people who already not voting..instead they should have recommended Chemical castration for rapist..
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Kirthi Rao, Mangalore
Wed, Feb 28 2018A very good step by congress. Most of the rape and sexual assault convicts are moral police, anti Romeo squad, love jihad activists.
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Navin Shetty, Manipal/ Bahrain
Wed, Feb 28 2018That's such a harsh punishment!, seriously? Our lawmakers are becoming fun-makers these days.
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