Justice Verma panel against death sentence for rapists
24 Jan 2013 6:06 AM IST
The Justice J S Verma committee, appointed in the aftermath of the rape-cum-murder of a 23-year-old girl in a bus last month to give suggestions to improve laws dealing with sexual offences, has, amidst a flurry of recommendations to avoid ‘failure of governance’-like situation in future, said there was need to end ambiguity over the control of the Delhi police.
In its report submitted on Wednesday, the committee said the maximum sentence for gang-rape should be raised to a full life term. ‘We did not recommend the death penalty because we received overwhelming suggestions against it,’ said Justice Verma, who retired as Chief Justice of India.
The committee has also suggested a review of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in conflict areas so that sexual offences by those in uniform are brought under ordinary criminal law.
Heading the three-member panel, former Chief Justice of India J S Verma said the committee received around 80,000 suggestions and finished its work within 29 days. The other members of the panel are former Himachal Pradesh Chief Justice Leila Seth and former solicitor general Gopal Subramaniam. The ambiguity of the responsibility of law and order in Delhi, the reason given publicly by the chief minister for the absence of responsibility, must be removed, says the report.
Criticising the home secretary R K Singh, Justice Verma said, ‘The commissioner of police was given a pat on his back by no less than a person holding the post of home secretary. I was shocked to see that.’ Singh had praised Delhi Police during a press interaction days after the 16 December incident when the force arrested six men allegedly involved in the crime. He said the failure of governance was the root cause of crime against women.
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He also said it was ‘equally shocking’ that there was total apathy of everyone who had a duty to perform.
Verma praised the youth for ‘the mature response.’ ‘Youth has taught us what we, the older generation, were not aware of. I was struck by the peaceful manner in which the protests were carried out...the youth rose to the occasion,’ he said.
In its report submitted on Wednesday, the committee said the maximum sentence for gang-rape should be raised to a full life term. ‘We did not recommend the death penalty because we received overwhelming suggestions against it,’ said Justice Verma, who retired as Chief Justice of India.
The committee has also suggested a review of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in conflict areas so that sexual offences by those in uniform are brought under ordinary criminal law.
Heading the three-member panel, former Chief Justice of India J S Verma said the committee received around 80,000 suggestions and finished its work within 29 days. The other members of the panel are former Himachal Pradesh Chief Justice Leila Seth and former solicitor general Gopal Subramaniam. The ambiguity of the responsibility of law and order in Delhi, the reason given publicly by the chief minister for the absence of responsibility, must be removed, says the report.
Criticising the home secretary R K Singh, Justice Verma said, ‘The commissioner of police was given a pat on his back by no less than a person holding the post of home secretary. I was shocked to see that.’ Singh had praised Delhi Police during a press interaction days after the 16 December incident when the force arrested six men allegedly involved in the crime. He said the failure of governance was the root cause of crime against women.
Â
He also said it was ‘equally shocking’ that there was total apathy of everyone who had a duty to perform.
Verma praised the youth for ‘the mature response.’ ‘Youth has taught us what we, the older generation, were not aware of. I was struck by the peaceful manner in which the protests were carried out...the youth rose to the occasion,’ he said.
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