Cyberabad CP Stephen Raveendra says work on the registry will begin as soon as an Act in that regard is handed.
| Photo Credit: NAGARA GOPAL
India’s first sexual offenders registry, with info obtainable to the general public to entry, is prone to be launched this yr because the Cyberabad police will probably be sending a proposal to the Telangana State authorities in March.
Cyberabad Police Commissioner Stephen Raveendra mentioned that the proposal will probably be despatched and that an Act must be handed by the State authorities, which needs to be accredited by the authorized cell as properly, following which we are able to work on how the registry will work and function.
“The registry will have repeat sex offenders, including sexual harassment, human trafficking, animal abuse, unnatural sex and those involved in PoCSO cases. We are planning to also add the names of those involved in heinous incidents even if it is a first offence, specially the ones involving minors,” mentioned the official.
The Cyberabad Police earlier consulted with Sunitha Krishnan from Prajwala Foundation to make a presentation on the proposed registry. The idea was pitched by Ms. Krishnan to IT Minister Ok.T. Rama Rao by way of Twitter, who later requested the then Telangana State DGP Mahender Reddy to observe up on the identical. It was determined that the Cyberabad police will probably be proposing the idea to the State authorities.
Sunitha Krishnan defined that the registry is for convicted offenders solely and never who’re allegedly accused. “I submitted a presentation before the police based on my research of 30 countries. It will not only be a repository but will also have components of classified offenders categorised with nature of offence etc. A conviction done by the lowest court will also be taken and the name will be immediately removed if there is an acquittal in the case from a higher court. The registry will not have names of juvenile offenders. Unlike other countries where a public notification of the offenders is given with a GPS location, we will have all details kept in a proper order for the public to access. One can submit a request with a name and other official identification details to access the registry and check if the person’s name is in there. A nodal officer will be authorised to respond to the requests. Registering an accused on this will be a part of the punishment wherein post a conviction, the details will be logged in,” she defined.
During an occasion held on the Cyberabad Commissionerate constructing in December 2022, IT Minister Ok.T. Rama Rao had urged Home Minister Mohd Mahboob Ali and the Cyberabad police to work on the registry. “Once listed in the registry, they will be prohibited from jobs and from using any facilities from the government,” he mentioned on the occasion.