The ministry of women and child development plans to recommend death penalty/life imprisonment for all the six accused, including the minor offender in the recent Delhi gangrape case. The ministry will be sending its recommendations suggesting changes in the country’s rape laws to Justice J.S. Verma Committee on Friday. The ministry also wants “fast-track” justice within “100 days” in this case.
Significantly, the ministry is also learnt to be considering a suggestion that all law enforcement officers and military personnel as well as other officers holding positions in the government should not be given any gallantry awards if any cases of women assault cases are filed against them or if they are undergoing trial.
Keeping in view the agony that the victim goes through even after the incident, the ministry has recommended “standard operating protocols (SOP)” for all implementing officials including police must be created for dealing with cases related to crimes against women.
“We have recommended stricter punishments for defaulters to inculcate the ‘fear of law’. Also, we feel that there should be effective monitoring and evaluation of laws through adoption of tools and review mechanisms,” WCD minister Krishna Tirath said. “We have also suggested economic support package for the family of the victim,” said Dr Ranjana Kumari, director, Centre for Social Research. Dr Ranjana Kumari, along with other noted women activists and experts, worked on the recommendations that will be sent to Justice Verma Committee.
For acid attack victims the ministry recommended state support for treatment.
The ministry also stressed on the need for gender sensitisation of not only community but law enforcement authorities at all levels on a regular basis. “The women activists that worked on the recommendations with us suggested that there proper training on gender sensitisation to change the mindset is important and should be given at all levels even for elected politicians,” added the minister.
The ministry also feels that there should be adequate number of forensic cell/labs for medical examination in a time-bound manner (for instance medical examination within 24 hours which is mandatory for cases of rape) and setting up of accessible single window grievance cells and counselling centres.