 Thank you so much, sir, for devoting your precious time and entering us with your words of wisdom. Professor Mohantha highlighted on the increase in the crime against women in Assam and even a comprehensive picture of the same domestic-wise data. He also highlighted on the role of fast-trackers and how we can go beyond the fast-trackers. It was indeed a pleasure listening to you, sir, and thank you so much for giving your valuable insights on the field. Now, I would like to request the keynote speaker for today's seminar, Srimati Rumi Kumari Phukon, to deliver the keynote entrance. And we look forward to get an exposure about this very dynamication on fast-track codes. Hey, good morning to all of you here. So perhaps it is bit difficult to speak after a good speaker concluded. But I am not so acquainted with those giving deliberations. But in a code, we generally use to listen and to write through the appeal. But the reason to speak is cute to judges. Anyhow, I am happy to attend a seminar with a very relevant topic organized by this university. I would like to welcome Mr. Kishnakanta Handik, the Vice Chancellor of the R.P. Das Institute. Mr. Kishnakanta Handik, State of the University. Mr. Kishnakanta Handik, the Vice Chancellor of the R.P. Das Institute. Mr. Kishnakanta Handik, State of the University. R.P. Das Academy of Bi blessed KK Handik University. Osim Samod, High Court. Approcame from the high court, present here. Officers from the Special branch. And dignitaries on the guys and the participants in the occasion. I sincerely appreciate the effort of our Haudenosaam Institute For choosing very crucial topics, the role of first aid food in delivery of justice to women for delivery. As we all know that women in our country having an exalted position in our society, crime or violence against them is increasing day by day. Episcopies in the women on the women engulfed is so rampant in India that the laws enacted to counters its behavior has been rendered toothless. Many times crime against women engulfed remain unreported and victim suffer in silence. Some of the causes for violence against women in the state of Assam include population explosion, immigration, illiteracy, unequal power, equation between man and woman, social norms, use of internet, unemployment, economic dependence of women, alcohol consumption, etc. In the words of Kofi Annan, former Indian Secretary Zanayam, violence against women inspires the most sinful rights, female rights, higher mission and it perhaps the most progressive. It knows no boundaries of geography, culture or wealth. As long as it continues, we cannot claim to be making real progress towards equality, development and peace. The idea of establishing the first aid code in India was conceived in 2000 by the National Science Commission to give speedy justice to the teams of sexual organs. With this objective in mind, the Indian government has been taking steps for setting up 1,023 first aid special codes, including 389 exclusive hospital codes across the country. For example, this has drive the cases pardoning to sexual organs. As per the data published by the Department of Justice as on June 20, 2022, 721st aid special codes including 408 exclusive oxo-coach are functioning in 28 states, Indian territories, which disposed of more than 1,00,000 cases, pending cases. Insofar as the Assam state is concerned, the first aid codes are being set up in every district except newly created ones. According to the National Department, 29,374 cases strived by code of cessation, inclusive cases strived by the first aid codes are pending for disposal in Assam. As on August 20, 2022, 5,427 cases related to the offense of rape under section 376 and 6,677 cases related to the offenses under oxo-aid are pending in our state. The memo to financing indicates that crime is going in current syndrome and in this many forms. Against the rate of conviction of curfews is very minimal. The reasons for such dismembered condition rate in which can be summarized as under 40 investigation by the police. This is that of rules and improper, unsatific method of evidence collection. That of modern and wealthy forensic lab suffered in well-trained investigative officers in the police department, lack of well-trained knowledgeable and competent public prosecutors, lack of coordination between the police and public prosecutors, delay in filing the file, delay in investigation, and filing of searching by the police. Crime it means turning hostile in the trial, victim detecting from her statement in the trial. This is the reason for lower conviction in our state as we have collected from the data that is always under research and scrutiny in the high court. I want to inform here that in the high court there is a justice committee who took over all the cases from the independent district and always overview over the tenancy of cases and to issue let us say direction in this regard as to how to equate the case distribution and the result of all the cases in proper manner. And the approach factors that I have mentioned places a pivotal role until the trial in favor of culprits leading to their acquittal. Needless to mention that fear of punishment acts as a deterrence in the society. How come? Due to frequent acquittals or accruals it is obvious that fear of law and signature and culprits are embedded than ever to commit heinous crime against women and girls and children. Many times we find that police officers being busy in law and order guilty and other VIP and VBIB security which leads the officers with little time to focus on investigation. A critical and heinous crimes like rape, murder, etc. which begins the case and eventually leads to acquittal in the court. In order to make the police department free from political and executive interference and to make it more effective and efficient and to strengthen the process of rule of law the Supreme Court in the way back in 2006 by Judgement in case of Prakash Singh v. Indian of India, 2006, 8 a.c. held that investigating officer investigating police must be separated from the law and order police to ensure speedier investigation, better expertise and improved report to the people. How? How? It is unfortunate that enforcement direction has not been complied by the state till now in its tourist period. Even the state rise in crime against women and children it is imperative that the state government should take active step to create separate wing in police department to investigate such crime with utmost diligence. It may not be out of place to mention here that domestic evidence or forensic evidence is very crucial in the trial of sexual offense. Therefore persons' manings as separate wing must be competent to collect such evidence. It is also incumbent upon the state to establish modern state or forensic laboratory in every district of Assam so that investigation is not delayed and the police are able to file a search explicitly. Insofar as the performance of the first state court is concerned it is up to safety. First state court are not so fast. It may be noted that in most of the courts penency is very high and the procedure governing the first state court and regular court are same. Another reason for delaying trial is a gentleman due to absence of witness in the court or a gentleman shot by the lawyer. Mass timing is to span in the high court and the supreme court when the order of first state court is silenced in such high court. So far as the rule of first state court is concerned that such advocacy is to ensure that survivors can rely on their impartiality and neutrality at every stage in a criminal proceeding. The first state court must ensure speedy and effective dispensation of justice. This such type of courts must not ensure speedy justice but also sensitive handling of such cases and prevent re-ictimization of sexual assault, survival. The judges are required to identify gender stereotyping and to avoid use of reasoning, language, who is demonetized the office and trivializing the serve of law. At least I think it fit to reproduce the extract from the banal principle of judicial conduct 2002, who is provides as an example. Is thus say not knowingly required proceeding is before or could came before make any comment that might reasonably be expected to affect the outcome of such proceeding or impair the meticulous fairness of the process. No other judge shall make any comment in public or otherwise that might affect the fair trial of any person or the issue. A very important judgment of the supreme court in this context is O'Connor Hart versus state of Maharashtra, state of multiple days to 2021 SCC 230. The O'Connor Hart Supreme Court has given certain guidelines to the courts dealing with the sexual offenses. So let me repeat the same for the benefit of the participant in the seminar in understanding the role of officious. Firstly the bad position should not mandate or permit contact between the accused and the victim. Such conditions should seek to protect the complainant from any further harassment by the accused. Secondly there are circumstances where the circumstances exist for the court to believe that there might be a potential threat of harassment of the victim or upon apprehension expressed after calling a report from the police. The nature of protection shall be separately considered and the appropriate order be made in addition to direction to the accused not to make any contact with the victim. In all the cases where bail is granted complainants should immediately be informed that the accused will be granted bail and a copy of bail will be made over to him within two days. Bail conditions and orders should avoid reflecting stereotypical and patricial notions about women and their place in society and must strictly be in accordance with the requirement of the services. In other words, discussion about the dress, behavior or past conduct or morals of the prosecutors should not enter in the verdict in grant will be. Next, the court while executing cases involving gender related crimes should not suggest or inject in any notions or encourage any steps towards compromises between the prosecutors and the accused to get money. Suggest or mandate mediation between the accused and the survivor or any of compromise, any form of compromise as it is beyond their power and jurisdiction. Next, sensitivity should be displayed in all the times by the charges who should ensure that there is no privatization of the prosecutors during the shooting or anything that say during the argument. charges should specially not to use any words spoken or written that would undermine or shake the confidence of the survivor in the fairness or impartiality of the court. To tackle all this situation, the Supreme Court has given various direction time to time so that the court can adjudicate the cases properly because no such specific guideline or rule has been embodied in the legislation until now. Even in law amendment 2018, what about several amendments in the IPC? With the insertion of 376AB, 376DA, 376DB and with the amendment by inserting 166A of section N section 228A of the IPC. Punishment for providing life imprisonment, this means imprisonment for remainder of the person's natural life and they can finality also provided in the newly amended IPC. Similarly, amendment of court criminal procedure has been provided for recording statement of victims of sexual assault and investigation of such cases by woman police official and most medical attention to the victims, immediate recording of statement of victims under section 64 of the IPC. Special procedure for recording statement of physically and mentally sentenced victim by audio-visual electronic means and trial of such cases should be tried by woman judicial official and duty of the court to awarding compensation to the victim etc. Amendment also brought in section 173 CIPC, which provides the investigation of the apposited offenses of the IPC, shall be completed within two months. By criminal amendment 2013 and 2018 respectively, it was provided trial of such cases so far as possible be completed within a period of two months from the date of filing the surrogate. In section 374 CIPC, after section 163 and 4 has been added, it is where it is provided that the appeal in such cases shall be disposed within a period of six months from the date of filing the appeal. Sentences are also secured in the provisions relating to 1438 and 1439 aspect. Similarly, the protection of children from sexual offenses act mandates that investigation of such cases are to be completed within two months and trial to be completed within six months. The special proxy of courts is also vested with minister powers should accept the report in final form submitted at the end of investigation only after proper application of mind and after ensuring that no culprit has been left unscathed. It may be the special proxy of court can also direct further investigation under section 173A of CRPC and the court can monitor investigation in excess of power and excess of market disease through CRPC and NCFAR and speedy investigation. Along with speedy trial, the first step court should also render justice in a sensitive 15 friendly manner. The Poxpoic remains contains provisions for recording statements and propositions victims in a side friendly and comfortable environment. In a recent decision, now Supreme Court in Sumiti, Tukaram, Sumiti, Tukaram, Badadi curses data Maharashtra and another 2022 life law SCFT. Directed the recording of evidence of unlawful witnesses in unlawful witness deposition centre. The victims of a sexual assault including victims of a Poxpoic, section 354 of CRPC caused in the category of unlawful witnesses. The first step special courts must ensure that evidence of unlawful witnesses are recorded in such unlawful witness deposition centre so that the witness can propose in a comfortable manner. Three from all field, three from the accused. Two will be connected by a remote audio visual linkage and the victim cannot see the accused at any time of deposing as a witness. In order to ensure expeditious disposal of cases, the Supreme Court in the state of Kerala first received 2018 SCC online and held a certain practice the headline have to be followed by the trial court who is include detailed case along the must be prepared. At the commencement of the trial the specific days on this examination of SIFT and cross examination will be conducted. Testimony of witnesses deposing on the same subject matter must be approximately scheduled. Request for different must be appropriately made before deposition of the calendar. Next grant of request to be promised unsufficient reasons and the date of cross examination after the trial so specified. Case can under to be followed strictly and witness to be said guarded. The above guidelines may be religiously adopted by the first state special courts in order to ensure expeditious disposal of secure offenses against women. The role of first state court now not only confined to the trial of cases but also to ensure that the victims are compensated and rehabilitated. In this regard there are various provisions that has been incorporated in the CRPC like TPC-7A TPC-7D and TPC-7C CRPC which provides for rehabilitative compensation to the victims. First state or medial medical treatment free of force to the survivors of sexual assault cases including rape etc. These are the mandate of the law then it is to be followed by the IP court into spirit. Further National Legal Service Authority formulated a compensation scheme detailed as below to be provided to those victims. I can summarize here what a ganglion compensation can be granted minimum 5 lakhs to 10 lakhs for minimum 4 lakhs to 7 lakhs for various physical injury or mental injury requiring rehabilitation it is up to 2 lakhs from 1 lakhs then victim recidivated in case of disfigurement of face compensation it is 7 lakhs to 8 lakhs in case of any more injury 5 lakhs to 8 lakhs then again the simple injury it is simple injury that is less than 50% it will be around 3 lakhs to 5 lakhs in case of injury less than 20% 3 lakhs to 4 lakhs these are the beneficial provision has been made under the law so that the victim can be compensation in real sense whenever it is necessary to provide and the court as is another regular court the court has to comply with this provisions and this is the difference some here, some here, some difference between the trial general court and the first court because in case we have found even in the victim reported that one has been assaulted severely assaulted there need to indicate the treatment the court without waiting for any report can direct for compensation direct the to provide such adequate compensation in 15 days that is also provided but all are actually nothing less than now in the state of guidelines for the victim court so the appropriate law is now is to be formulated in force of trial products no discussion of role of first step special court would be complete unless references made to the dinty of such courts in assuring coordination with other related functionaries like Sai welfare committee special juvenile police unit district trial protection officer support person district legal service authority the first step special court can also take support and assistance from various agencies while recording evidence of victims of sexual offenses providing them with legal assistance including medical treatment awarding compensation providing protection from treats harassment and creating awareness about the offenses against women such integrated effort will enable the first step court in regular injustice to the women last but not the least the least is a mass endeavor to recommend the existing procedure to bring the new the first step court in the line of wisdom and peace to ensure that in cases relating to crimes against women, girls and children hearing take place in a time more manner and the same are disposed within a stipulated time so that very purpose of establishing first step courts are not difficult with these words I conclude my duty I am thanking you all thank you so much man for giving your valuable practical insights on the theme and you enlightened us with the scenario of the crime against women and you highlighted also the scenario of the past type courts all the valuable insights provided by you gave us a perspective that one should love while discussing these issues in the technical sessions and on in the in the near future thank you so much may I now request our Honorable Vice Chancellor and the President of the seminar to kindly deliver the presidential address Thank you Good morning Namaskar Respected Chief and Education Advisor Prasad Nani Respected Keynote Speaker Rumi Khokhan Our registrar Aalup Jyoti the convener of this program Prasad Nani all the distinguished speakers for this one day national seminar the director of different schools of our university the participants from different parts of the state and media friends and it is a great privilege for me to join this program this one day national seminar because this is my first program after taking over the charge of Vice Chancellor of this prestigious university I was the organizers have been working day and night to make it a land success so if there is any lapses in organizing this program this credit should be given to me if there is lapses the credit should be given to my team who have worked day and night in fact what Prof. Mahant Ji said that he is not an expert in the subject but I could see that he has collected data information practically he has presented a research paper on the theme which has given a detailed picture about the first role of first report in delivering justice to women in the state of Assam and madam has given the judicial aspect of the issue which is perhaps unknown to many of us and I as a person to deliver the presidential address I am nothing to speak but since I have been asked to speak so I have to give a brief view about my own on this issue we have born and brought up in a very unique country like India where we are talking about delivering justice to women but since inception it is perhaps our country which has given maximum justice to women maximum respect to women we say sitara that you know the women come fast our goddess our women come fast we have we say we have given enough respect we have been giving enough respect to women in our country starting from the beginning of our civilization but today whenever we are talking about justice to women whenever this seminar is addressing this issue unfortunately why, how it happened where we talk about need for justice to women in fact with the passage of time anything happened and the theme which was submitted to me that I have to speak I found many of the issues are stereotype I was just asking to Dr.Mohan that my impression about Assam is very unique because Assam and Odisha have very unique culture very similar culture in terms of food culture language celebration and respect to women and whenever I was told that the women justice to women is relatively less in Assam I was wondering that how it is women harassment is more in Assam I was wondering that how it could happen in Assam state like Assam I was thinking deeply about how it could happen it can happen because in Assam in terms of its culture in terms of religion in terms of its religious heterogeneity it could be one of the very important reason for which it might be happening but if it is happening because data says it is not happening in the entire state but it is happening in some districts of the state it is an issue an issue which cannot be addressed because now perhaps for the last one decade we are living in a country in a state where the things are better controlled better managed in comparison to previous administration previous government and now every step is taken by the government in the state in the country so that women should be respected women should be recognized and if we look at the things the justice to women I was just enquiring about what percentage of the employees of KK Handy state open university are women it is 60 percent more than 60 percent when the university from which I have come I was just before coming I was asking that what percent of women are there in in dranandhe national open university it is 86 percent where is injustice you look at it if you look at the results of UPSC or PSE of a different state or if you look at any competitive examination in the state you will find that the women are extending women are doing better than better than men look at us in front of us sitting an IPS officer region women and whenever we talk about injustice to women there are many reasons because we have a national commission for women there is a demand for national commission for men so whenever these things are going up if at all it is it has increased the injustice to women has increased in some corners some pockets of PASA now as a state open university it is also we have some role to manage this issue so I feel that as a state open university we should also take up this issue we should think of how we have to sensitize the people of the state the educated mass of the state how we have to control this issue how we have to reduce this issues which which are there in the state we can even start a certificate or a diploma program on this issue that empowerment, women harassment and all these things we can think of doing this beside that all of you will be happy to know that in the last 10 days our admission has gone up like anything we are touching 40,000 from 13 to 13,000 to we are touching 40,000 so if 40,000 people will be given a project that they have to find out what is the cause of women harassment in their respective villages or in respective towns and they should come out with what is their suggestion when we have to ask our evaluator to find out that what is the suggestion people at different corners of the state are thinking about starting out this issue perhaps we can come out with a solution which can recommend we can recommend to the policymakers and government they can address it at a macro level and as well as at micro level to show that the problem if it is going out of hand it can be controlled number one, number two that thus this seminar which is addressed going to be addressed by very immediate speakers from judiciary and from social society they should the recommendations which they are going to give let us come out very transparent and objective conclusions recommendations which we should again submit to the policymakers that what A, B, C, D like that what the government should do as policymakers how to sort out this problem and I believe that the if at all this is the responsibility of the high court to create fast track fast track codes and as has been told that there is derailment of fast track code from their main purpose of giving justice to women let us also talk about it that how government should look at these issues and particularly what professor Mahant Ji said that this is a not a common problem in all parts of the Assam and wherever you know he was giving data that in which district there is maximum in which type of crimes against women let us focus on those issues how we can sort out those issues different types of crimes against women because you know we are not here to create problem our government is not here to create problem government is concerned to solve the problem so we have to give appropriate suggestions appropriate recommendations not very subjective recommendations very concrete suggestions recommendations to the government through this seminar event through our students recommendations event how government should tackle this issue government is serious to tackle this issue a very sensitive government has to tackle this issue let us come out with conclusion so that you know we can also as an university as an educational institution we can also solve we can contribute to solve this problem and there are many things which have to be discussed in the whole day and I believe that this seminar the recommendation of this seminar is going to be a great help to the policy makers and government to improve the situation to provide justice to the women of the state so that it will be a better society the public opinion the public image which the state has outside the state and in the country that should be improved further so I am really thankful to Dr. Mohan for expiring his valuable time with us and giving every thorough research paper and issue which needs thorough research and I am also thankful to madam for expiring her valuable time with us I am also thankful to all the speakers who have spared their valuable time to share their views on this issue in this seminar and I wish this seminar a grand success thank you very much so much so for your valuable insight on the topic she already definitely mentioned about how our university can look into this issue for justice for women and thank you so much for entering us with your words of expiry so before we conclude we would like to offer a memento to our chief guest and keynote speaker as a token of our sincere appreciation for their time and effort they made to be with us this morning I request our Honourable Vice Chancellor kindly to do the honour Srimati Rumi Kumari Phukon and I request Dr. Rotiti Choudhury to deliver the mode of thanks Honourable Vice Chancellor Professor Nani Gopal Mohantho Mrs. Justice Rumi Kumari Phukon Distinguished guest and dear participants from the deliberations in the inaugural session it has come to light that the right to speedy trial is the most significant dimension of the justice delivery mechanism in a democratic polity like India but at the same time sir there is another the term that is justice hard it is justice buried too on the one hand we have justice delayed and justice denied and on the other hand we have the justice hurry and justice buried so I think the need of the hour is to strike a balance between the two so that an appropriate mechanism could be evolved for justice delivery when we are talking in terms of providing justice in fast track codes certainly we are not talking in terms of a mechanism that was available in Hitler Germany or in Saddam Hussein's Iraq or in former Soviet Union we are very much concerned about a system where justice would be delivered within the broad framework of the democratic nuances of the philosophy and the procedure of the country we are thankful to Professor Nani Gupal Mohanta to the Honourable Bicensular of this University Professor Rajendra Mardas and the keynote speaker this is Justice Rumi Kumari Phukon for setting the agenda for the coming discussions in the subsequent sessions and finally kind of forgiving as you are I am sure you won't mind any lapse on our part while elinging the event so thank you, thank you very much once again with this we have come to the successful the inaugural session thank you all for being present in the inaugural sessions