A Bill cleared by the Cabinet on Thursday for tabling in the Indian Parliament provides for women only judges for rape victims. The provision is meant to negate questioning used by defence lawyers to deliberately browbeat and shame rape victims in courts normally presided over by male judges.Other provisions of the Bill include -
a witness protection program
victims have the right to appeal against acquittal of the accused
rape victims can have their lawyer's present during in-camera questioning by advocates of the accused
video recordings by prosecuting agencies on scenes and events relating to the crime, including statements of witnesses and accused, be treated as admissible evidence by courts.
