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| Union Cabinet again dithers on amending Criminal Law | | | ET Plus Report
Jammu, Mar 12: As has been the case with the counter insurgency operations in various States, including Bihar, Odhisa, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Jammu and Kashmir, the Government's way of dithering over vital issues is manifest also in the Union Cabinet's nod to amendment to the criminal law which could deal firmly with rapists and those indulging in various crimes against women.
The Union Cabinet has been finding it difficult to formulate a unanimous view on the amendments to the criminal law despite the fact that New Delhi and its adjoining areas have been witnessing three to five cases of rape, sexual harassment and molestation of women every day.
The police reports indicate that there has been no marked decline in these criminal offences even after the unprecedented public uproar and violent protest demonstrations in Delhi following the rape of a 23-year old girl in a moving bus two months ago.
Since Constitutional experts, political leaders and social activists differ on the nature of punishment for those involved in rape, sexual assault or abuse, that must be included in the new criminal law the Congress led Government does not want to take any hasty step.
Rapists continue to roam freely and the Union Cabinet opts for a unanimous view on the matter related to the amendment to the criminal law. It is the same story related to counter insurgency operations in States troubled by Naxals and Maoists. Should the Army be pressed into service in tackling the menace of Naxals and Maoists who have carved out safe sanctuaries in some areas in various States? There is no unanimity in the Union Cabinet and the problem persists in various Indian States.
And as far as amending the criminal law is concerned the matter has been kept again under the carpet. This became evident when the Union Cabinet today deferred a decision on the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, which proposes life term to those found guilty in rape crimes.
According to reports, the Union Cabinet deferred the decision due to lack of unanimity over the proposed anti-rape ordinance and referred it to the Group of Ministers (GoM) for further consideration.
The anti-rape ordinance will be brought before the Union Cabinet only after the GoM holds a discussion and proposes changes to it. Despite differences in the Government over the bill, the UPA Government is committed to bring the bill in the current session. Shinde had earlier ruled out that there were any differences between Law, Home Ministry and the Women and Child Development Ministry. The Union Home Minister had said, "There is a difference of opinion on legal points only, which is being addressed to and it will be taken up during the special Cabinet meeting."
The fresh bill will replace the ordinance on crimes against women promulgated last month which had prescribed life imprisonment as the maximum punishment for those committing rape. People want speedy decision on amendment to the criminal law which could lead to a marked decline in cases pertaining to crime against women. |
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