New Delhi: The Justice JS Verma Committee, constituted to suggest amendments to laws relating to crimes against women, on Wednesday submitted its report to the Home Ministry., reports Dispatch News Desk (DND).
The three-member committee was set up a week after the horrific December 16 gang-rape of a para-medical student in Delhi which shook the entire nation and led to widespread protests. Justice Verma said in response to the Home Ministry’s public notice on the direction of the Committee, nearly 80,000 responses were received.
Addressing the press after submitting the report, Justice Verma said the committee received suggestions not only from within India but also from outside the country. Among the contributors were professors from the Oxford and Harvard Universities, a judge from Australia and the Chief Justice of the Canadian Supreme Court. He was displeased with responses received from the ministries, states and
He said the committee engaged in in-depth global research, analysed past judgments and public policies before finalising the report. He lauded the extensive research done by the lawyers.
He expressed hope that Parliament will take legislative action on suggestions made by the Committee. According to Justice Verma, failure of good governance is to be blamed for breakdown of rule of law and violence against women.
“Deficiency of gender bias, that cannot be overcome by laws, has to be overcome by administration,” he added.
Justice Verma said he was shocked to see the Union Home Secretary patting the back of Delhi Police Commissioner days after the incident.
“The least I would have done was to seek an apology for failure to protect citizens whose safety was entrusted to me,” he stated.
“There was total apathy of everyone who had a duty to perform,” Justice Verma said on the Delhi gang-rape incident.
