Deterrent punishment required to curb crime against women: SC

A bench of justices P Sathasivam and Ranjan Gogoi said that crime against women has increased despite stringent legislation to prevent other offences like bride burning, cruelty and suicide.

"In spite of stringent legislations in order to curb the deteriorating condition of women across the country, the cases related to bride burning, cruelty, suicide, sexual harassment, rape, suicide by married women etc have increased and are taking place day by day.

"A complete overhaul of the system is a must in the form of deterrent punishment for the offenders so that we can effectively deal with the problem," the bench said.

The observation was made while upholding the conviction and life imprisonment awarded to two women and their mother who had burnt the victim to death.

The court observed that the victim had been harassed by her sisters-in-law and mother-in-law for her inability to conceive and she was burnt to death within three years of her marriage on February 28, 2000.

It said that kerosene was poured on the victim and she was set on fire by the appellants, Ashabai Puna Tayade and Kavita Ajay Medhe and their now deceased mother, Kesharbai.

"Even though the mother-in-law, who also filed a separate appeal, died on February 10, 2012, in view of clinching evidence led by the prosecution, there cannot be any leniency in favour of the appellants, who are sisters-in-law of the deceased and at whose instance the deceased was burnt at the hands of her mother-in-law.

"... We find no merit in the appeal. Consequently, the same is dismissed," the court said.