NEW DELHI, Feb 1:
The Union Cabinet today approved promulgation of an ordinance to give effect to the Justice Verma Committee report on making laws on sexual crime against women more stringent.
The Cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh had been specially convened for the purpose.
The Prime Minister had in letter to Justice J S Verma two days ago said the Government would be prompt in pursuing the recommendations of the Committee.
The Committee had submitted its report on January 23.
The three-member panel headed by Justice Verma with Justice (Rtd) Leila Seth and former Solicitor General of India had been constituted in the wake of the nationwide outcry against the gangrape of a 23-year-old paramedic in the capital on December 16, and later her death.
The main recommendations of the committee included increasing the punishment up to 20 years of imprisonment for rape and murder and life term for gang rape.
It, however, did not go for death penalty as demanded by various bodies and political parties.
The Committee had suggested a number of amendments to the criminal law for providing higher punishment for the guilty of rape, including police and public servants.
The new offences like disrobing a woman, voyeurism, stalking and trafficking have been included in the sexual crimes.
At present, rape laws provide for seven years to life imprisonment for rape.
The Justice Verma Committe has recognised the need to curb all forms of sexual offences. It is for upto seven years of punishment for voyeurism, up to three years for stalking or attempts to contact a person repeatedly through any means.
Acid attacks would be punished by up to seven years of imprisonment, and trafficking with RI for seven to ten years.
The Committee also provides for punishment for any officer who fails to register a case of rape reported to him. (UNI)
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