Hyderabad: The State Women’s Commission has found fault with a Cyberabad police inspector for mishandling a dowry harassment case. In a recent incident, a woman with her two kids staged a dharna in front of Infosys office at Singapore Township in Ghatkesar, for having been deserted by her techie husband.
She demanded that the police arrest the Infosys employee for physically harassing her for extra dowry.
Following a call from the Infosys management, the Ghatkesar police instead of taking the victim’s complaint, asked her to register it at the police station in her hometown of Medak. Meanwhile the husband, M. Ravi Kiran, is now absconding.
The Commission questioned the police on its irresponsible handling of the case and why the husband wasn’t asked to report to the police station after the dharna? Dr. Tripurana Venkataratnam, chairperson State Commission for Women said, “When the woman staged a dharna, the Ghatkesar police should have asked the husband to report to the station.
The police should have first counselled the couple. If matters failed to improve, then complaint should have been registered and later transferred to the concerned police station.
Instead, the cops directed the victim to another police station. She now has no choice but to wait for the missing husband to be traced. After being physically harassed for dowry, this is the justice she gets! I have spoken to Cyberabad commissioner and asked him to initiate an enquiry and action against the inspector.”
Meanwhile Women’s panel lacks legal unit
Unlike Kerala, TS and AP state Women’s Commission does not have a legal cell or a family counselling centre, which is mandatory.
A legal unit comprises a panel of advocates, who advise victims on legal procedures, and a family counselling centre for compromise cases. Other than advising victims to file a petition with the commission, no legal advice or counselling is being done.
“In Kerala, there is an entire department dedicated to legal advisors. Presently, being the chairperson, I am counselling as well as advising victims on how to go about legally. The commissioner has written to the AP government to set up legal core units, said chairperson Dr Tripurana Venkataratnam who is also an advocate.
