Justice Verma's Committee

Within a month, 650 pages comprehensive report has been prepared by Justice J.C.Verma’s committee as recommendations for improving security of women and children in India. Punishments for criminal offences have been offered. Stringent deterrent will prevent offences. Codification will prevent reduction in punishment as it is done now; life sentence which once given could be for 20 years and not 14 years as it is reduced now. For aggravated sexual assault, whole life sentence will be given. Besides imprisonment, “fine” will be charged for meeting medical offences for the victim like acid attack. New offences were defined like voyeurism stalking and acid attack. And it was define that there is a “breach of command responsibility” where the senior police/security officer is held responsible for acts committed by his juniors. The committee was able to see the patriarchal features in framing of law, and recognised marital rape as an offence for all ages. Senior security officers would get 7 to 10 years for the offences against women and juniors would get only 5 years of imprisonment for the same crime. “Intentional touching “can get a sentence of 2 years to 5 years imprisonment.”Trafficking of a person” can get a punishment of 7 years or up to life term. Frequent crime of “eve-teasing” is grouped as sexual assault. Even with the codification of punishment, offenders can get away because of the casual way police operates. Sensitising police has been taken up but they are resistant to learn new approaches. The measures have to be implemented otherwise they remain in paper only. We can make improvements in law enforcement agencies, but the real social controls have to be taught to individuals in society. Schools have to instruct good values and make better citizenry of future India. It has been recommended by the committee that school curriculum to ensure better values; moreover breaking down the stereotype of the dominant male is very important while constructing future citizenry. Immunity to police forces and armed forces from conviction for sexual assault is most pertinent, as this is important in trust deficit of the state; sexual violence in the conflict zone will not be overlooked. Homosexuals have rights and they will not be violated upon. The report has taken care of all aspects of sexual assault in a detailed manner. It is an excellent report which has to be implemented for betterment of the Indian social environment.