Fri Jan 02 14:10:54 UTC 2026: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Advocate Urges President to Launch National Mission on Women’s Safety, Citing ‘Constitutional Emergency’
Mumbai, India – January 2, 2026 – A Mumbai-based advocate is calling on the President of India to initiate a National Mission on Women’s Safety and Dignity, citing a “constitutional emergency” resulting from persistent failures in enforcing laws protecting women.
In a detailed representation, advocate Hitendra D. Gandhi argues that systemic shortcomings are eroding constitutional guarantees of equality, liberty, and dignity for women, as enshrined in Articles 14, 15, and 21. Gandhi contends that when women live in fear and reporting crimes becomes risky, the promise of equal citizenship is undermined.
Citing data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Gandhi highlighted a significant rise in reported crimes against women, from 244,270 in 2012 to 448,211 in 2023 – an average of over a thousand reported offenses daily. While these are the figures that are reported, many victims stay silent because they are afraid. The numbers include rapes, kidnappings, assaults, dowry deaths, and cybercrimes. Gandhi argues these statistics represent only the tip of the iceberg, with many victims deterred from reporting due to fear, stigma, and the fear that the process will cause more harm than the crime itself.
Gandhi points to recurring patterns of institutional weakness that embolden criminals and fail to protect women. Failures include delayed FIRs, inadequate evidence preservation, intimidation of witnesses, and excessive adjournments, which Gandhi argues turn the legal process into a form of punishment.
The plea references high-profile cases like the 2012 Delhi gang rape, the Unnao case, and the recent Phaltan woman doctor’s death, to illustrate how fear, delay, and influence can obstruct justice. He also cited a recent incident in Bihar where the Chief Minister was filmed pulling a woman doctor’s veil.
Gandhi is advocating for mission-mode reforms with clear timelines, including prompt registration and medical care for victims, real-time survivor and witness protection, forensic speed, time-bound trials for sexual offenses and POCSO cases, and strict accountability for delays and mishandling. He also calls for institutional safety standards for workplaces, hospitals, and shelters, as well as transparency through district-wise dashboards tracking investigation timelines, forensic turnaround, and compliance actions. The protocol of “Dignity in Public Life” needs to be adopted for holders of public authority.
The call to action is aimed at ensuring that improvements are verifiable and translate into real change, rather than empty slogans.
First Piper 