New Delhi, Sep 6 (IANS) Thirteen government hospitals in the capital are now equipped with rape detection kits for victims of incest crimes as per guidelines issued by Delhi High Court, the Delhi Police has told the court.
Mukta Gupta, counsel for Delhi Police, contended before a division bench comprising Chief Justice Ajit Prakash Shah and Justice Manmohan earlier this week that of the 20 hospitals of the Delhi government, 13 are equipped with Sexual Forensic Evidence Kits (SAFE) and seven more are in the process of doing the same.

“The seven hospitals will soon have these SAFE kits,” Gupta said.

The court had in an earlier order directed Delhi Police and the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) to start a ‘crisis intervention centre’ to help out victims of incest crimes.

Submitting the status report before the bench, Aparna Bhatt, counsel for Delhi Commission for Women, said that most of the guidelines issued by the court are being followed.

“Apart from the guidelines, a home study should be conducted where the incest crime took place as this will help us in analysing the trend,” Bhatt said.

Gupta also submitted before the bench that approval has been granted by the Lt Governor for sensitising judges, public prosecutors and police officials on various aspects of incest crimes. She said that the training module and the brochure related to the matter would be translated and printed soon.

To a query with regard to awarding suitable compensation to the incest crime victims, Gupta said that the matter is still under consideration.

The bench also issued notice to the chairman of the Child Welfare Committee to appear in person Sep 23 and explain the status of the implementation of the directions.

The court had passed a set of guidelines for investigators of incest crimes to sensitise them to the emotional trauma of the victims.

This followed complaints that investigators and prosecutors of such crimes, whose incidence has gone up sharply in recent times, often acted insensitively, particularly when dealing with children.