The first legislative business of the Budget Session, which is likely to begin either on February 21 or 22, is set to be the enactment of a law to provide stringent punishment for crimes against women.
The Criminal (Amendment) Bill, 2012, which proposes to expand the definition of rape to sexual assault and increase the quantum of punishment to life imprisonment and is pending with the Lok Sabha, will be taken up as the first legislative business of the House, sources said. They added that in the meantime the government is expected to receive the recommendations of the Justice J.S. Verma Committee and, if the need arises, “some changes may also be brought in the existing bill or a complete overhaul could be done”.
Sources said the government is preparing to take up the law in the Lok Sabha on February 25 and will try and get the political parties to agree to a discussion and passage of the bill on the same day.
With the ongoing outcry to ensure speedy justice and enhanced punishment in cases of aggravated sexual assault there is always a likelihood that the bill, which is pending in the Lok Sabha, will not be passed as it is. Justice Verma’s report would certainly weigh on the current bill, which envisages a gender-neutral law against sexual assault.