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New Delhi, Jan 2 (PTI): The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by a retired civil servant seeking directions to the government to ensure safety of women and for conduct of fast-track court proceedings in all rape cases.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Altamas Kabir will on Thursday hear the PIL, which also sought suspension of members of Parliament and legislative assemblies in case a charge sheet is filed against them for crime against women.
In her PIL, Promilla Shankar, a retired officer of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), has pleaded with the court to direct the government to set up fast-track courts in all states for expeditious trial of rape cases.
She also submitted that cases of rape and crime against women and children be investigated by lady police officials and trial be conducted by lady judges.
Meanwhile, another bench, of justices P Sathasivam and Ranjan Gogoi, issued notices to the Centre and all the states and sought their response on another PIL by advocate Mukesh Kumar seeking safety measures for women.
Kumar, in his PIL, demanded creation of women police stations in every town to investigate complaints of rape and sexual assault against women.
It also sought steps for implementation of UN convention on elimination of all forms of discrimination against women.
The court asked the Centre and the states to file their responses in four weeks.
The PILs come in the backdrop of the nationwide outrage over the December 16 brutal gang rape and assault in Delhi of the woman, who died in a Singapore hospital on December 29.
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