With the Congress president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi sending out a strong symbolic message by visiting the rape victim in Jind, the Centre too has swung into action planning significant changes in the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) regarding crime against women.
Highly-placed government sources said the ministries of home, law and justice as well as women and child development will soon initiate the consultation process regarding the proposed changes in law to deal sternly with criminal activities against women.
The changes, sources added, in the existing law will not just deal with rape cases only but the entire spectrum of crime against women. The Union Cabinet had earlier this week already approved strict punishment for those sending obscene or threatening SMSes and MMSes to women. Similarly, there is a growing view within the government that the present provisions of the IPA and CrPC need to be tweaked a bit making them stronger so that they act as a major deterrent.
The Congress president, sources said, who has already taken a serious view of the recent rape cases in Haryana has categorically conveyed to the government on more occasion than one that there should be “zero tolerance for any criminal activities against women.’’ Now the government too wants to send out a strong signal on this issue.
“This new committee that will comprise members from ministries of home, law and women and child development will carry out a comprehensive review of the relevant sections of law dealing with women. It will then submit a report to the government following which it will be discussed by the Cabinet,’’ a senior government functionary said.
Sources said the committee, among others, will examine current laws related to rape, eve teasing, molestation and sexual harassment at work place, use of Internet and technology in tarnishing a woman’s reputation, dowry and illegal trafficking of the girl child.
The Union home ministry, sources added, on its part is contemplating laying down standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the state police to deal with crime against women.