By IANS,
New Delhi : The home ministry is studying the Justice Verma Committee report on sexual crimes and will finalise its comments before sending the recommendations to the parliament standing committee on home ministry, official sources said Thursday.
The Justice J.S. Verma panel, set up by the government last month to review laws to provide for speedier justice and enhanced punishment in cases of aggravated sexual assault, submitted its report to the government Wednesday. The panel was set up in the wake of outrage over the gruesome gang-rape of a 23-year-old trainee physiotherapist Dec 16.
Official sources said the home ministry is likely to finalise its comments on the recommendations in the report in the next three-four days.
“The ministry is studying the report,” an official told IANS.
The official said many of the suggestions in the report were already part of the criminal law amendment bill introduced in parliament during the winter session.
He said that the recommendations along with comments of the ministry would be sent to the Standing Committee on Home Affairs, headed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader M. Venkaiah Naidu, for its consideration.
The official said government will take into account suggestions of the standing committee and make necessary changes in the bill.
The recommendations of Justice Verma Committee include life imprisonment for gang-rape, speedy justice for the victims, review of the working of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act and community policing.