By Vishwa Mohan, TNN | Jan 31, 2013, 01.23 AM IST
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has promised swift action on the recommendations of the Justice JS Verma committee amid strong indications that the government is ready to toughen laws dealing with crimes against women by providing for life imprisonment for rape-murder and addition of new offences such as disrobing of women, voyeurism, stalking and trafficking.
Sources said the Justice Verma panel's recommendations pertaining to gang rape — punishing the guilty with rigorous imprisonment (minimum 20 years extendable to a jail term for the duration of a convicted person's natural life), identification of gang rape causing death or causing the victim to be in a persistent vegetative state as a new offence, and increased punishment for repeat offenders — will find place in the amended legislation.
Sources also said the ministry was in agreement with the grounds that the Justice Verma panel cited to reject the clamour for death penalty and chemical castration as punishment for rapists.
PM vows action
PM Singh on Wednesday assured Justice Verma in a letter that his committee's recommendations in the wake of the Nirbhaya case would be acted on promptly. "On behalf of our government, I assure you that we will be prompt in pursuing the recommendations of the committee," the PM said in his letter.
The letter addressed Justice Verma's comments that the government could ignore his recommendations only at its own peril. It also appeared to be aimed at aligning government with the popular outrage in the wake of the rape and death of Nirbhaya, given that Justice Verma had complained that the report was received by a middle level bureaucrat.
Singh is learnt to have extended the assurance to Justice Verma after getting feedback on the panel's recommendations from home minister Sushilkumar Shinde who on Wednesday held detailed discussions with his ministry officials.
Shinde later told the media that his ministry would act swiftly on all "actionable" suggestions. Without giving any timeframe, he said, "We will implement it as soon as possible."
An official said, "A final decision on any of these clauses will be taken after considering views of the parliamentary standing committee on home affairs which is expected to discuss the Justice Verma panel's report on February 4."
He said the "actionable" suggestions would find its way through official amendment to theCriminal Amendment Bill that was introduced in Parliament in December last year.
The Justice Verma panel suggested introducing new sections to deal with offences like disrobing a woman - such incidents are regularly reported from all over the country and are part of sexual assaults or acts of revenge, including caste animus. Voyeurism, stalking and trafficking are also likely to be dealt with specifically.
Offences like passing lewd remarks, gestures, sounds or acts intended to insult the modesty of a woman are covered under Section 509 of the IPC but certain amendments are needed to precisely define 'gestures' and objectionable words.
Sources feel amendments are needed to remove ambiguity in the law so that cops can improve their prospects of securing a conviction against offenders.
At present, Section 509 says, "Whoever intending to insult the modesty of any woman, utters any word, makes any sound or gesture, or exhibits any object, intending that such word or sound be heard, or that gesture shall be seen by such woman, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both."
Link: Govt set to clear lifelong jail for rape and murder
Sources said the Justice Verma panel's recommendations pertaining to gang rape — punishing the guilty with rigorous imprisonment (minimum 20 years extendable to a jail term for the duration of a convicted person's natural life), identification of gang rape causing death or causing the victim to be in a persistent vegetative state as a new offence, and increased punishment for repeat offenders — will find place in the amended legislation.
Sources also said the ministry was in agreement with the grounds that the Justice Verma panel cited to reject the clamour for death penalty and chemical castration as punishment for rapists.
PM vows action
PM Singh on Wednesday assured Justice Verma in a letter that his committee's recommendations in the wake of the Nirbhaya case would be acted on promptly. "On behalf of our government, I assure you that we will be prompt in pursuing the recommendations of the committee," the PM said in his letter.
The letter addressed Justice Verma's comments that the government could ignore his recommendations only at its own peril. It also appeared to be aimed at aligning government with the popular outrage in the wake of the rape and death of Nirbhaya, given that Justice Verma had complained that the report was received by a middle level bureaucrat.
Singh is learnt to have extended the assurance to Justice Verma after getting feedback on the panel's recommendations from home minister Sushilkumar Shinde who on Wednesday held detailed discussions with his ministry officials.
Shinde later told the media that his ministry would act swiftly on all "actionable" suggestions. Without giving any timeframe, he said, "We will implement it as soon as possible."
An official said, "A final decision on any of these clauses will be taken after considering views of the parliamentary standing committee on home affairs which is expected to discuss the Justice Verma panel's report on February 4."
He said the "actionable" suggestions would find its way through official amendment to theCriminal Amendment Bill that was introduced in Parliament in December last year.
The Justice Verma panel suggested introducing new sections to deal with offences like disrobing a woman - such incidents are regularly reported from all over the country and are part of sexual assaults or acts of revenge, including caste animus. Voyeurism, stalking and trafficking are also likely to be dealt with specifically.
Offences like passing lewd remarks, gestures, sounds or acts intended to insult the modesty of a woman are covered under Section 509 of the IPC but certain amendments are needed to precisely define 'gestures' and objectionable words.
Sources feel amendments are needed to remove ambiguity in the law so that cops can improve their prospects of securing a conviction against offenders.
At present, Section 509 says, "Whoever intending to insult the modesty of any woman, utters any word, makes any sound or gesture, or exhibits any object, intending that such word or sound be heard, or that gesture shall be seen by such woman, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both."
Link: Govt set to clear lifelong jail for rape and murder
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