Rape laws: Will pursue Verma panel's suggestions promptly, says PM


New Delhi, Jan 30 (IANS): Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday assured Justice J.S. Verma that the government would be prompt in pursuing the recommendations of the committee he headed on sexual assault cases against women.

Singh wrote to Justice Verma thanking the three-member committee. He said: "The committee submitted its report within a short period of 30 days is testimony to your commitment and concern for the public good."

"I am writing to thank you for your labour of love in completing the work of the committee our government had constituted to recommend amendments in law to be able to deal effectively with cases of sexual assault of extreme nature against women," he said.

The prime minister assured the committee of prompt action on its recommendations.

"On behalf of our government, I assure you that we will be prompt in pursuing the recommendations of the committee," the prime minister said.

The Justice J.S. Verma Committee, set up by the government Dec 23, 2012, to review laws to provide speedier justice and enhanced punishment in cases of aggravated sexual assault, submitted its report to the government Jan 23.

The panel was set up in the wake of outrage over the gruesome gang-rape and brutalities committed on a 23-year-old woman in a moving bus in south Delhi Dec 16.

Life imprisonment for gang-rape, but no death penalty even if the victim dies or is reduced to a vegetative state, were among the recommendations of the panel.

The committee, tasked to look into possible amendments to criminal laws for quicker trial and enhanced punishment for rapists, submitted its report to Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde 29 days after it was set up.

Justice Verma said the committee has not suggested death penalty for rapists because there were overwhelming suggestions from women organisations against it.

The panel recommended that stalking, acid attacks and voyeurism should be considered separate crimes, but suggested seven years imprisonment for acid attacks on women and for voyeurism, including making MMS clips and passing them on to others.

It said trafficking in women should be punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term between seven to 10 years.

"Stalking or attempts to contact a person repeatedly through any means shall be liable to get a term of up to three years," it said.

The committee, however, did not suggest lowering the legally defined age of "juvenile" from 18 to 16 years, a demand by women activists after one of the accused in the Delhi gang-rape was found to be below 18 years of age.

In its recommendations, the committee came down heavily on the administration, including the police and citizens, for not helping the grievously wounded young woman and her male friend who were thrown off the bus after the gang-rape.

It also took an open dig at the "peculiarity" of the Delhi government of not having the power over police in the city and said this "ambiguity" needs to be removed to maintain law and order and ensure accountability.

  

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Comment on this article

  • Jude, Mangalore Dubai

    Thu, Jan 31 2013

    Sachidanand Shetty, The entire world calls him Singh is King. Only the BJP is crying otherwise. Remember every country has its own laws and regulations and according to Irish law abortions are illegal as they do not want a society where unborn life is destroyed.You simply cannot conceive for pleasure and then try to kill a unborn child and I am sure you are aware of what is happening to the girl child in India, where abortions are legal.And secondly before talking about the catholic faith please learn what it teaches instead of talking through your hat. The catholic faith is pro life but there are exceptions when termination of pregnancy is allowed when the life of the mother or child or both is in danger. The Irish government also follows these laws and it has made it clear that the mistake was made by the doctor in his judgement in Savitha's case. They have promised the world that after Savitha's unfortunate death these laws will re-examined and clarity brought into its provisions so that there will not be a repeat of what happened to poor Savitha. It is better you get all your facts right before writing anything silly that comes into your mind.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sachidanand Shetty, Mundkur/Dubai

    Thu, Jan 31 2013

    Jude, Mangalore, no need for your explanation, entire World knows how he performed as a PM. You may support him too and you too called as Sardaar…… like I support strongly Saffron since it is one of the colors in our National Flag. Can you remember who opposed the FDI during NDA Rule? Dear Peter Lewis, UPA Government and few Christian Associations strongly condemned suicidal death of Sister Jacinta but none raised their voice when Hindu girl denied abortion even though she was requesting to do so while dying in Ireland since they follow Catholic form of Government. Ye hai Duniya Dost!!!!!!

    DisAgree [2] Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jude, Mangalore Dubai

    Thu, Jan 31 2013

    Sachidanand Shetty, He does not have a mentor like the Nagpur mafia. He is at least 100 times more efficient and qualified than the entire BJP top brass put together. The progress of India since 1993 is entirely due to him. You see he talks very little but works very hard to move the nation forward. He shows that Singh is King whenever needed like during the nuclear deal and again this time on the FDI. Therefore I can perfectly understand your frustration and anxiety. No matter what please remember that he is also your Prime Minister, unless you are thinking of running away to some saffron republic.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Tony Pinto, Manglore - Mumbai

    Thu, Jan 31 2013

    Peter Lewis, Brahmavar/Sharjah you were not in INDIA so we would have taken out CANDAL LIGHT MARCH.

    For any LAW their should be debut other wise if employer is not happy with BOSS filed rape case against him or neighbor family or in other issue file RAPE case and book the person for 20 years some RAPES and really and some are FAKE ......So first DEBATE on the LAW THEN ACT ASAP.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Stany D'sa, Mangalore/Dubai

    Thu, Jan 31 2013

    It is high time that PM must act by enacting the Rape laws including re-visiting the juvenile act. All the Delhi rapist should get severe punishment quickly and that is how we honour the poor victm.

    DisAgree Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Peter Lewis, Brahmavar/Sharjah

    Thu, Jan 31 2013

    Whole country kept dumb when catholic nuns raped in orissa.When it happend in Delhi it open the eyes of the world.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Naveen D'souza, Valencia-Kuwait

    Thu, Jan 31 2013

    BEFORE ALSO I COMMENTED SAME THINGS.
    DON'T GIVE THEM EASY DEATH SENTENCE. HANGING IS A EASY DEATH FOR THEM. MAKE ONE HUGE CAGE IN FRONT OF INDIAN GATE AND PUT THEM INSIDE (ALL RAPEIST WHO DID A CRIME IN INDIA) AND ASK PUBLIC TO TAKE CARE. THATS ENOUGH.

    DisAgree Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sachidanand Shetty, Mundkur/Dubai

    Thu, Jan 31 2013

    Oh my God, finally he woke up and uttered something without asking his mentor

    DisAgree [11] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Roshan Braganza, Mumbai

    Thu, Jan 31 2013

    The thought of making 'marital rape' as offence should be put to dustbin first. Second age of Juveniles should be lowered. Third make sexual assault gender neutral , so than men can also make use of it......last human traficking should be defined eloborately, its hard to interpret. If any person or minor with parents legally migrates to other country , its not human trafficking i suppose. @ Ismail Perinje , KSA , Rape cases involving minors are statuatory or false type , where they often consent , later they blame it on bf since their age is less than 18. If the age juveniles lowered , girls or minors will also get punished for act. Infact sex outside marriage should be made illegal not age ( like the country u live in ) @ Jossey , forget rape cases , if a minor turns out be serial killer , he can get hardly get 3 or 4 yrs in jails , and will be relaesed on his 18 th birthday as a birthday gift!

    DisAgree [3] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ganesh, mangalore

    Wed, Jan 30 2013

    all rapist get 100 lashes from victims family everyday. atleast for one month.

    becaause only victim knows meaning of pain.

    DisAgree Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • ISMAIL.K.PERINJE, PERINJE-YANBU/KSA

    Wed, Jan 30 2013

    When male considers female as equal then only crime against women will come down in India.After Delhi episode we are hearing more rapes especially against minor females.Our mindset should be changed.Every home should teach/educate it's male member to respect female and they are equal.Law is meant to break and DEATH PENALTY in rarest of rare case of rape should be included.UPA GOVT, implement it immediately

    DisAgree Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mangalore/Mapusa/Mumbai

    Wed, Jan 30 2013

    According to Verma's Panel - If you first rape and then kill you wont get death punishment.
    If you kill first you will get death punishment.
    Who says law is not an ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

    DisAgree [3] Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse


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