Theme: Crimes & Violence

LGBTQ+ Persons Arrested By the Police

When police officers want to arrest you for any crime or suspicion of any crime, they may come to your location and arrest you. While arresting you, the details of the arrest, place of arrest, time of arrest etc will be written down in an Arrest Memo. They may:

Regardless of your gender or your sexual orientation, you have rights under the law while being arrested.

If you are a woman or a trans woman, then there are specific rights that you have while being arrested. For example, a lady constable has to be present when a woman is being arrested. Click here to understand what these rights are.

How can you File a Criminal Complaint for Domestic Violence?

In addition to filing a case for domestic violence, where you can seek, among other things, protection or monetary relief, you can also(( Juveria Abdul Majid Patni v. Atif Iqbal Mansoori, (2014) 10 SCC 736.)) file a criminal case with the Court against the harasser if the violence you faced is severe. By filing a criminal case, the harasser would be punished for the act of violence committed with jail-time and a fine. Your lawyer must inform the Court that both the cases have been filed(( Sirajuddin Khan @ Siraj v. Dr. Shahnaz Firdous M.Cr.C NO. 10341 OF 2011.)).

Before filing the criminal case, you will have to go to the police station and file an FIR. You can file an FIR with the police using Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.

A criminal case can be filed for the following reasons(( Section 498A, The Indian Penal Code, 1860.)):

  • If the harasser drives a woman to commit suicide(( Rupali Devi v. State of U.P & Ors. (2019) 5 SCC 38.)) .
  • If the harasser causes or tries to cause any grave injury to the woman or danger to the life or health of a woman.
  • If the harasser affects the mental health of a woman to such a degree that it is a danger to her life.
  • If the harasser through any words or physical actions causes any mental stress or psychological distress to the woman(( Rupali Devi v. State of U.P & Ors. (2019) 5 SCC 38.)).
  • If the harasser forces a woman to give dowry or unlawful demand for any property or valuable security.

If convicted by the Court for any of the crimes given above, the harasser will have to pay a fine to the Court and face imprisonment for up to 3 years.

Some states provide handbooks for ASHA workers where you can find more information on forms on violence, where it can happen and how to file a complaint to seek protection against domestic violence. For example, see this handbook published for ASHA in Chattisgarh, Delhi, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

Cases of Dowry Death

When the death of a woman within 7 years of her marriage was unnatural, i.e. caused by burns or injuries which are not ordinary and she had also suffered from cruelty or harassment because of demands for dowry, it is assumed that the husband or the relatives of the husband committed the crime of cruelty.

Death by suicide is also considered as a form of unnatural death.

If the above facts exist then the court will assume that the accused has committed the offence. The accused will then have to prove that she or he did not commit the offence.

The punishment for this crime is jail time up to 3 years along with a fine

Police Complaint against Child Sexual Abuse

Portfolio Keyphrase: Filing a police complaint of child sexual abuse

Tags: Abuse, Violence, Crime, Children, Explainer, Police, Courts

[Trigger Warning: The following content contains information on sexual and physical violence which some readers may find disturbing.]

When a person approaches the police to make a complaint against child sexual abuse, the following process will take place:

  • The police will make a written record of the complaint.
  • Based on the report, if the police believe that the child needs immediate care and attention, they will shift the child to a hospital or a shelter home.

On reporting the crime, a person who makes a genuine complaint does not have to worry about being pulled up in court if the offender is not convicted(( Section 19(7), The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.)).

Account Takeover and Unauthorised Access

If someone takes over your online account, accesses your data or the hardware/software on your computer without your permission, that person is guilty of the offence of unauthorized access(( Section 43(a), The Information Technology Act)). For example, if someone gains access to your Gmail account without your permission. 

The offender is liable to pay you damages/compensation by way of a monetary amount not exceeding one crore rupees. However, it needs to be established that the offender accessed your account dishonestly.(( Section 24 and 25, The Indian Penal Code, 1860.))

Rights of LGBTQ+ Persons While Being Arrested

You are not supposed to be mistreated by police officers while being arrested based on your sexual orientation or your gender identity. So it is helpful to know the 5 rights you have under the law:

Ask police to identify themselves

You can ask the police to identify themselves by showing accurate, visible and clear identification along with name tags which state their designations.

Ask for the reasons for arrest

Even if the police do not need a warrant to arrest you, it is your right to know why you are being arrested and it is the duty of police officers to tell you why.

Ask the police to Inform your family and friends

When you are being arrested, before taking you away to the police station, you can choose any family member or friend to whom the police must inform about your arrest and where you are being detained. The police have a duty to inform your family or friends about your arrest. They have to  record the details of this person as an entry in the police diary and Arrest Memo.(( Joginder Kumar v. State of Uttar Pradesh (1994) 2 Crimes 106 (SC).))

Ask for a lawyer

You can ask the police to call your lawyer. If you do not have a lawyer or cannot afford a lawyer, then you can ask the court to appoint a lawyer for you.

Ask for medical check-up

  • Police officers have a responsibility to conduct a medical examination every 48 hours if you are in their custody.
  • You can ask to be examined for major and minor injuries on your body by a trained doctor.

This physical examination has to be recorded in the Inspection Memo and signed by the police officer. This is done to prevent violence by police while you are in their custody.

How can you file a complaint against domestic violence?

[Trigger Warning: The following content contains information on domestic violence which some readers may find disturbing.]

You or anyone on your behalf, can approach the authorities listed below to file a complaint against any domestic violence that you have been facing:

Police

Go to the Police Station 

You can approach the police station in your area, or any other police station, and file a complaint for domestic violence. The police will file a DIR/FIR and/or direct you to the Protection Officer of the district who will be able to help you out further.

Protection Officer

Approach the Protection Officer 

To file a complaint, the Protection Officer of the district will be the first point of contact for you. The Protection Officer will help you file a Domestic Incident Report (DIR), make applications to the Court to get you monetary relief, protection etc. A state-by-state list of Protection Officers is given here. If you cannot find the Protection Officer of your area, you can reach out to NGOs, civil society organizations and service providers who will put you in touch with one.

National and State Commissions for Women

Approach the National/State Commission for Women

National Commission for Women (NCW) is a national-level government organization that is empowered to investigate complaints related to issues faced by women, such as domestic violence, dowry harassment, rape, etc. The NCW will help you by:

  • Monitoring and expediting the investigations being led by the police.
  • Providing counselling or a hearing before the NCW, so that the dispute can be resolved between the two parties.
  • Constituting an Inquiry Committee which makes spot inquiries, examines witnesses, collects evidence and submits the report with recommendations regarding the domestic violence.

You can get in touch with them by either calling the helpline number 1091, or sending an email to ncw@nic.in or filing an online complaint. As the NCW is located in New Delhi, you can approach the State Commission of Women situated in your state, and ask them for help.

Some states provide handbooks for ASHA workers where you can find more information on forms on violence, where it can happen and how to file a complaint to seek protection against domestic violence. For example, see this handbook published for ASHA in Chattisgarh, Delhi, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

Theft by Child

If a child commits theft, then the punishment for them is lighter than the punishment for an adult. This is usually what happens when a child commits theft:

  • A child may be arrested, but he cannot be kept in the jail – the police must present the child to the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) within 24 hours(( Section 10, Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015)).
  • If the police does not release the hold immediately on bail, the child can only be kept in an Observation Home(( Section 12, Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.)) until he is  taken to JJB (within 24 hours).
  • The police are  supposed to inform a Child Welfare Officer who is supposed to accompany the child to the JJB for the first hearing(( Rule 8(2)(iii), Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Model Rules, 2016.)).

JJB is supposed to finish the enquiry within 4-6 months, and the case is terminated if it extends beyond that(( Section 14, Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.)).

If you have faced theft by a child, read here to understand the steps/options you can take to complain.

Child-Friendly Court Process

Portfolio Keyphrase: Child friendly court process

Tags: Abuse, Violence, Crime, Children, Explainer, Court, Police

[Trigger Warning: The following content contains information on sexual and physical violence which some readers may find disturbing.]

There are Special Courts set up to deal with child sexual abuse because of the sensitivity of the issue. Unlike normal Courts, these Courts are supposed to follow a special procedure to make sure that the child feels safe and comfortable.

If a child is the victim of sexual assault, the Special Court must ensure some child-friendly procedures for the child:

Ensuring the presence of familiar people through the legal process

The Court will allow the child’s family member/relative/friend or guardian to be present with them during the trial(( Section 33(4), The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.)).

Ensuring that the legal process is not strenuous for the child

The Court will:

  • Allow frequent breaks for the child during the trial(( Section 33(3), The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.)).
  • Not call the child to the Court repeatedly to testify(( Section 33(5), The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.)).
  • In special circumstances, the child need not come to Court and make statements. The Court will ask an officer of the Court to examine the child at their home. The Court can take the help of a qualified translator or interpreter or special educator when recording the child’s evidence.(( Section 19 and 38(1)(2), The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.))
  • Try and ensure that the evidence is recorded within 30 days and the trial is completed within one year(( Section 36, The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.)).

Protecting the child from the accused and the public

  • The Court  must ensure that the child is not exposed to the accused in any way during the trial. However, the accused can hear the child’s statement. Some examples of how Courts do this include one-sided mirrors, curtains or through a video call(( Section 36, The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.)).
  • The Court must have private court proceedings so that the media cannot report about the happenings in Court(( Section 37, The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.)).

Questioning of a Child

Due to the sensitivity of the issue and for the  protection of the child, the lawyer of the accused is required to conduct the court process in a certain manner.

  • The lawyer cannot question the child directly. The lawyer will present the questions to the Special Court which will then question the child(( Section 33(2), The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.)).

The lawyer cannot question the character of the child, for example,  by saying that the child has a history of lying to their parents(( Section 33(6), The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.)).