New Delhi:
Amid a growing national clamour for stringent punishment for rapists in the wake of the death of a 23-year-old medical student in Delhi, the Congress today sent its recommendations to a panel constituted to review and strengthen laws on crimes against women.
In its suggestions to the commission, headed by retired Supreme Court judge Justice JS Verma, the party has reportedly called for life imprisonment for those accused of rape. It has also reportedly recommended a harsher life sentence as compared to the present term of 20 years. The party has also said the death penalty should be awarded only in the 'rarest of rare cases'.
The recommendations came a day after the senior Congress leaders - including Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, Finance Minister P Chidambaram, Defence Minister AK Antony and Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit - met to finalise the party's suggestions to be sent to the Justice Verma commission. At yesterday's meeting, the party reportedly concluded that the punishment awarded should be proportionate to the crime committed.
The Congress, in its proposal to the panel, has also expressed concern at the existing law for juveniles. Yesterday, the party said there was need for a re-look at the definition of juvenile in cases of sexual assault on women.
"There is definitely a need for a re-look at this issue, especially in the light of heinous crimes committed. We are aware that children should be given a second chance to reform but in cases such as this (Delhi gang-rape), it certainly merits a re-look," party spokesperson Renuka Chowdhary said on Friday.
The suggestion comes at a time when details have emerged of how one of the six accused, who raped Amanat (NOT her real name), and is allegedly a minor, turned out to be the most depraved - he raped her twice, once when she was unconscious, police say.
(Read)A court in Delhi today took cognisance of the charges against the other five accused and has also issued production warrants to them to appear before it on Monday at 12:30 pm.
(Read)