Straight Answers

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Rohini Salian,</span>Public Prosecutor,On the implications of the life sentence handed in the recent Delhi rape case.<br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Two youths were sentenced to life imprisonment in the Delhi rape case. What does it imply?</span><br /><br />Maximum punishment is given in this case. Probably the evidence must be very clinching. Normally, we don''t get evidence in such cases because the victims back out in most cases. Also, because of the time lapse, the victims feel that it will be blown out of proportion if it is conducted in the open court. Sometimes we have problems with parents and relatives who don''t want to continue the cases. And those who want to continue with the case have to undergo mental trauma in the open court. They are mentally raped in the court by putting too many unwanted questions during the cross-examination.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Will this judgement encourage more rape victims and their families come forward to fight their case?</span><br /><br />This may help to some extent. But in our society, the rape victims bear the stigma rather than the accused. Nobody looks at the victim sympathetically and because of this, many rape victims do not come forward. People''s mindsets should be changed.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Should there be harsher punishments for the rape accused?</span><br /><br />When L K Advani was the Union Home Minister, he had suggested that the rape accused should be given the death penalty. But I was opposed to it as it depends on the circumstances. In case of gang rape, the accused should be punished with the death sentence. If it is between two known people then the situation is different. It all depends on the facts and circumstances of each case. It is for the judge to come to a conclusion and to punish the accused accordingly.<br /><br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Does it take long time for rape case trials to process?</span><br /><br />In Mumbai it used to take long time. But now, there are special courts which are specially presided over by women judges. The matters come up faster. Also the prosecution should request in-camera proceedings to save the victims the media glare.<br /><br /></div> </div>