(Current Affairs) National Events | April: 2013

Justice JS Verma Panel Report Submitted:

The Justice Verma panel, which is a 3-member commission created to review the laws for sexual crimes submitted the report to the Government of India on 23 January 2013. Justice Verma panel was created after the brutal gang rape of the Para-medical student on 16 December 2012. Former Chief Justice of India, Justice JS Verma headed the commission and reviewed the laws on sexual crimes which exist already. The report was prepared by the panel in its 30-day deadline. The former CJI described that there were more than 80000 suggestions from the length and breadth of India as well as abroad after 5 January 2013 was declared as the deadline for receiving comments from common man in order to refurbish the present legislation that deals with the sex offenders. The Justice Verma panel recognised failure of governance as primary cause of sexual crimes. The panel additionally criticised the police, government and also the public for the lack of interest and also recommended changes in the entire society.

Some of the changes described by the Justice Verma panel as follows:

• There is a need for overall wide spectrum of law for violence against the women.
• It is important to address even the placid sexual harassment and that each and every complaint of sexual harassment should be registered.
• Anyone committing rape shall be given rigorous imprisonment which may range from seven years to life term.
• Punishment for rape that leads to death or vegetative state should be given rigorous imprisonment ranging from not less than 20 years to the remaining life of a convict.
• Crimes like gang-rape shall entail punishment ranging from not less than 20 years to whole life of the convict.
• Gang-rape causing death of the victim shall amount to life imprisonment for the convict.
• The crimes such as voyeurism and stalking, even-teasing as well as insensitivity of the police for dealing with the rape cases shall also be punished.
• Voyeurism will lead to a punishment of up to 7 years.
• Justice Verma panel also included in its review the crimes such as uncalled-for