GURGAON: A day after a 23-year-old woman was abducted and gangraped in the city, the

on Monday passed an order virtually absolving its responsibility of ensuring

are safe. The administration has told all malls, commercial establishments and pub owners that they cannot have women employees working beyond 8pm.

Gurgaon deputy commissioner P C Meena said permission from the labour department would be required for a woman employee to work beyond the stipulated time in these establishments. For staffers permitted to work after 8pm, the employer would have to provide transportation for them to go home, he said.

By banning them from late-night jobs, the administration seems to be viewing women as the problem. The DC invoked an existing law -- the Punjab Shops and Commercial Establishments Act -- while passing the order. He directed employers to maintain a log book to record details of vehicles used to transport women employees, their time of departure, name of driver, etc.

“Any information about women employees working after 8pm should be sent in advance to the labour department. During inspection, the permission received from the labour department for deploying women beyond the permitted time will have to be produced when asked for by district administration officials,” said Meena.

Meena directed officials to conduct surprise checks to ensure the order is being implemented. Owners of malls, pubs and commercial establishments have been asked to install CCTV cameras at pick-up points near buildings.

Expressing concern over incidents of eve-teasing, molestation and assault, Meena said it shall be the responsibility of pub and malls owners to ensure that these places are shut within the closing time indicated in their licences.

“If any owner is found flouting licence norms, a case shall be registered against not only the defaulting pub owner but also the mall owner,” added the administrator. Malls have been directed to disconnect electricity connections of pubs that stay open after closing time.

Pub operators have also been asked to maintain records of visitors. They should keep a photocopy of the customers’ identity cards and show these to the area SHO once every 15 days.

Meena has asked each pub owner to create an IP address and provide direct internet access to the area DCP so that activities inside these premises can be monitored and recorded. The owners have yet again been asked to install CCTVs on their premises with a pan-360-degree view so that no corner is left without electronic surveillance. These CCTVs should have a recording backup of a minimum 30 days.

He asked the police to increase their vigilance and act with strictness against drunken driving outside the malls. The mall owners should also get their bouncers verified with the police, he said. These orders are applicable to all malls and pubs operating in the Gurgaon district, Meena added.

Times watch

In recent times, TOI has tried to avoid carrying disturbing reports of rape and suicide, especially of minors, on front page (even today we have put one such report inside). While our primary duty is to report news without attaching any value judgment, we also believe it is our responsibility to spare our readers the trauma such reports cause (to the extent possible).

But every now and then, we are left with little option but to make exceptions to our rule, particularly when law enforcers appear apathetic — at times, even callous — in their approach to prevention, investigation and/or prosecution.

The unchecked spate of violent crimes against women in Gurgaon is one such instance where the local and state administration's approach amounts to negligence. Till such time as we see greater seriousness from the police, we will continue to highlight such crimes, even if it means unsettling our readers in the morning. The administration needs to feel the heat of public outrage.