Praja Foundation: White Paper on "The State of Policing and Law & Order in Mumbai"

  • Reported Rape cases have increased by 289% & Molestation by 287% during FY 2011-12 & FY 2015-16
  • Perception of people feeling insecure for safety of women and children has gone up from 22% to 33% between 2013 to 2016
  • Average time taken for rape cases from FIR to Chargesheet is 9.2 months
  • North Central Mumbai has highest (9286) occurrences of crime; while the MLAs representing this area have asked 60 questions on crime in 2015-16
  • 3 MLAs (Bharati Lavekar, Ramchandra Kadam and Selvan Tamil) have not raised even a single issue on crime during Monsoon’15 & Winter’15 Session
  • Shortage of Investigation Officers (IOs) by 11%
  • Control room short staffed by 57%


Mumbai 14th November, 2016: Praja published its Annual Report on Policing and Law & Order in Mumbai. Praja’s consistent reports from the past years have led to a positive change in the levels of understaffing in the police force. In 2011, the gap was 19% which till 2015 remained the same. Mumbai Police has recruited 5267 personnel which has reduced the gap to 7% in 2016.
Another recommendation by Praja had been on increasing the conviction rates for Class II serious offences (i.e. crime against body such as rape, molestation, murder and kidnapping). The conviction rates in the last few years had been consistently dropping. In year 2012, the rate was as low as 7%, but in the last one year the rate has improved from 9% to 18%.
The report further analysed the data gathered under RTI (Right to Information) and has observed that Mumbai is increasingly becoming more unsafe for women and children. The total numbers of rape cases registered in 2014 was 609 out of which 56% were children (below 18). In 2015 the number has increased to 712 out of which a higher ratio of 63% is of children (below 18 years).
Nitai Mehta, Founder and Managing Trustee of Praja Foundation said, “Within a span of five years (2011-12 to 2015-16), reporting of rape cases has increased by 289% and molestation by 287%. On this serious issue of child and women safety, the Government of Maharashtra and Police department should take cognisance of and take steps towards ensuring safety of women and children.”
In the same period (2011-12 to 2015-16), through Praja’s annual survey of over 25000 households, it was found that people’s concern for safety of women and children has also been correspondingly increasing. It has moved from 22% in 2013 to 33% in 2016. In the year 2013-14 when the year to year rise in the reported rape cases was at 47% and molestation was 54%, the concern of people for women safety was also the at 36% in 2014.

Milind Mhaske, Project Director of Praja emphasised on the issue and stated, It takes on an average 9.2 months for a Chargesheet to be filled after FIR in rape cases and 21.3 months for decisions to be reached in Mumbai sessions courts. While, on an average cases in sessions court studied by us take 25.9 months for reaching decisions from the date FIRs are registered.”
Mhaske further added that, out of the two key recommendation on the bringing better police reforms, State Security Commission has not been formed till date and it’s a similar case with the State Police Complaint Authority for which the committee has been set up but with no official office.
Concluding the report, Mehta said, “The Chief Minister who also holds the home department should focus on proper policing, investigation and implementations of police reforms suggested by the Supreme Court to make Mumbaikars life secure.”

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