The Criminal Law Amendment Bill, 2013, passed by the Lok Sabha on March 19 and by the Rajya Sabha on March 21, to amend rape-related laws comes across as a half-hearted exercise by the political class to address the issue of violence against women. The plea by women’s organisations that the recommendations in the Justice J.S. Verma Committee report find a place in it has been ignored.
The Bill includes stalking, voyeurism and acid attacks as offences and prescribes punishment for aggravated forms of rape and gang rape, but it fails to consider the Verma report recommendations pertaining to anti-women provisions such as Sections 354 and 509 of the Indian Penal Code, which only punish assaults and gestures that “outrage the modesty of women”.
The All India Democratic Women’s Association expressed its disappointment with the Bill and is hopeful of the neglected provisions included at some stage.
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