Patriarchy and gender inequality, deeply ingrained in Indian society, manifest in the daily challenges faced by women. A recent study sheds light on a concerning aspect of this issue, revealing that the gender of the person filing a First Information Report (FIR) influences the outcome of the case, particularly in Haryana.
The study's comprehensive analysis, ranging from the filing of FIRs to the final court outcomes, underscores the urgent need for gender-sensitive interventions within the legal system. Bridging the gap in perceptions among police officers and fostering positive change could pave the way for a more equitable and just legal environment for women. The statistics, revealing lower court appearances and fewer convictions for women's complaints, underscore the systemic changes required to ensure gender equality in the Indian legal system.
The Research Findings
More than 4 lakh FIRs in Haryana were scrutinised in a study conducted by Nirvikar Jassal, Assistant Professor of Political Science at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). The study, published in the American Political Science Review, analysed data from January 2015 to November 2018. Shockingly, when a male registers a case on behalf of a woman, he is less likely to “face burdens or exclusions” than if the woman herself was the primary complainant.
The cases studied ranged from theft to burglary to violence against women and they were traced from the initial filing of the FIR to the final outcome in court. The study matched more than 2.5 lakh FIRs with judicial records found on the e-courts website and found that women’s complaints are less likely to go to court and have fewer convictions — 5 per cent – even when they do, compared to men’s complaints at 17.9 per cent.
Timelines And Inequality
The research exposed significant delays in the justice system concerning women's cases. On average, there is a lag of over a month between the incident and the registration of women's cases, indicating prolonged durations before the state acknowledges the complaint. Furthermore, women's cases spend over a month longer in the judiciary. This extended timeline contributes to a lower chance of the suspect being incarcerated, reducing the likelihood of justice being served.
Police Bias And Perceptions
Multiple studies, including one by Saumya Tripathi surveying 190 police officers from Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, highlight gender bias, discrimination, insensitivity, and disrespect within the police force. The findings indicate a high degree of patriarchal beliefs among police officials, influencing their perceptions of women's gender roles. Simply increasing the number of police stations, women's courts, or fast-track courts may not suffice to address these disparities, according to Nirvikar Jassal.