Reported by Sunil Prabhu, Edited by Shamik Ghosh | Updated: February 01, 2013 19:37 IST
New Delhi: The government has reportedly recommended including the death sentence in extreme cases of sexual assault in an ordinance that it plans to issue in the wake of national outrage over the gang-rape of a medical student on a Delhi bus last month.
The ordinance, which will enact tougher laws for sexual offenders as recommended by the Justice JS Verma Commission, is being discussed right now by the Union Cabinet, which will take a final call on the proposals.
Sources said while it has included the death sentence or a jail term spanning the convict's lifetime in "extreme cases", the government has omitted a recommendation made by the Justice Verma Commission that sexual assault in a marriage also be included.
Despite demands to include the death penalty for convicted rapists, the Verma Commission did not recommend capital punishment in its report, saying that even women's groups that had been fighting on the issue for years, were against it.
In the proposed ordinance, the word "rape" has been replaced by the term "sexual assault" and acid attacks, use of criminal force and stalking have been included under that.
Named for the retired chief justice who was its chair, the Verma committee recently recommended major revisions of the laws that deal with crimes against women.
Law Minister Ashwani Kumar said today, "We have diligently applied our mind to various recommendations of the Verma committee and the Criminal Amendment Bill and a final view will emerge after the cabinet meeting."
Parliament is scheduled to meet on February 21 for its budget session. The ordinance allows for the changes to be enacted before Parliament debates the 600-page report of the Verma commission, which was readied in just 29 days. Justice Verma, who is 80, had urged the government to match his team's commitment by implementing the changes urgently. Earlier this week, the Prime Minister sent him a letter stating, "On behalf of our government, I assure you that we will be prompt in pursuing the recommendations of the committee."
Five men have been arrested for the fatal gang-rape and are being tried at a fast-track court in Delhi. A sixth who says he is 17 is being tried separately at a juvenile court.
The barbarous gang-rape provoked fierce street protests with thousands of students vowing they would fight for better policing and tougher anti-rape laws. As public anger surged, the government appointed the Justice Verma commission to review existing laws.
Link: Death sentence for extreme cases, says ordinance on anti-rape laws
The ordinance, which will enact tougher laws for sexual offenders as recommended by the Justice JS Verma Commission, is being discussed right now by the Union Cabinet, which will take a final call on the proposals.
Sources said while it has included the death sentence or a jail term spanning the convict's lifetime in "extreme cases", the government has omitted a recommendation made by the Justice Verma Commission that sexual assault in a marriage also be included.
Despite demands to include the death penalty for convicted rapists, the Verma Commission did not recommend capital punishment in its report, saying that even women's groups that had been fighting on the issue for years, were against it.
In the proposed ordinance, the word "rape" has been replaced by the term "sexual assault" and acid attacks, use of criminal force and stalking have been included under that.
Named for the retired chief justice who was its chair, the Verma committee recently recommended major revisions of the laws that deal with crimes against women.
Law Minister Ashwani Kumar said today, "We have diligently applied our mind to various recommendations of the Verma committee and the Criminal Amendment Bill and a final view will emerge after the cabinet meeting."
Parliament is scheduled to meet on February 21 for its budget session. The ordinance allows for the changes to be enacted before Parliament debates the 600-page report of the Verma commission, which was readied in just 29 days. Justice Verma, who is 80, had urged the government to match his team's commitment by implementing the changes urgently. Earlier this week, the Prime Minister sent him a letter stating, "On behalf of our government, I assure you that we will be prompt in pursuing the recommendations of the committee."
Five men have been arrested for the fatal gang-rape and are being tried at a fast-track court in Delhi. A sixth who says he is 17 is being tried separately at a juvenile court.
The barbarous gang-rape provoked fierce street protests with thousands of students vowing they would fight for better policing and tougher anti-rape laws. As public anger surged, the government appointed the Justice Verma commission to review existing laws.
Link: Death sentence for extreme cases, says ordinance on anti-rape laws
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