NEW DELHI: Amid serious debate over inadequacy of present laws to protect women, the committee set up to recommend changes in law on Monday sought public comments by January 5. The move may finally see the government bring the required legislation in Parliament during the budget session in February-March next year.
The committee - headed by former Chief Justice of India J S Verma - was constituted on Sunday night to look into possible amendments to criminal law so as to provide for quicker trial and enhanced punishment for those accused of "sexual assault of extreme nature against women".
Since the government has ruled out the possibility of holding a special session of Parliament on the issue, it is learnt that the home ministry will incorporate Verma committee's recommendations on stringent law for sexual crimes in the pending amendment legislation - Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2012 - that was introduced in Lok Sabha on December 4.
"Bringing an ordinance before the budget session is highly unlikely as there is no point rushing it through in light of the impending (budget) session after getting the committee's recommendations," an official said.
Ruling out a special session of Parliament, home minister Sushilkumar Shinde, who met the chief justice of Delhi High Court and requested him to set up fast-track courts to deal with crime against women, particularly the recent gang-rape, said the government would quickly act on the committee's suggestions.
"You will see our action, then you will realize. We have given one month's time to this committee. I will request them to give their suggestions as early as possible and we will act upon them," Shinde said.
Hours after being constituted, the committee -- comprising Justice (retired) Leila Seth and former solicitor general Gopal Subramaniam - on Monday sought comments from the public, particularly eminent jurists, legal professionals, NGOs, women's groups and civil society members on reviewing existing laws.
"The suggestions can be sent by email to justice.verma@nic.in or through FAX at 011-23092675," a home ministry statement said.
The ministry, meanwhile, convened a meeting of chief secretaries and directors general of police of all states on January 4 to take stock of crimes against women, particularly rape. Views of top cops and other state functionaries will be taken over possible amendments in the law.
Amid clamour for capital punishment for rapists, law minister Ashwani Kumar said society, as well as jurists, were divided on the issue and government was open to persuasion by either side. "Rape is punishable by life imprisonment, which, by all accounts, is a very harsh punishment. Some people say it is even more difficult than death penalty because you suffer a feeling of death every day inside prison," Kumar told a TV channel.
Asked whether he supported death for rape, he said though his personal views were irrelevant, "there are two words on it in society, there are two views amongst jurists, there are two views among the political class".
"Some say death penalty might prompt the culprit to murder the victims of rape. I don't say I have the last word on it... it would be left to the wisdom of this (Justice J S Verma) committee to recommend what they think whether capital punishment would be enough of a deterrent or not," he said.
Delhi gang rape: Verma panel starts work, seeks views
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Delhi gang rape: Verma panel starts work, seeks views
