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Make sexual ragging a cognizable offence: House panel
Vishwa Mohan,TNN | Mar 2, 2013, 05.46AM IST
NEW DELHI: A parliamentary committee which reviewed the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill inserting stringent punishment for sexual offences on Friday recommended making ragging with sexual overtones in educational institutions a cognizable offence as it felt that limiting punishment to rustication and other disciplinary acts was not enough. It also suggested that mercy petitions of death row convicts be disposed of within three months of receiving such pleas.
Highlighting how minor offences sometimes led to major crimes, the panel said that though the act of ragging often started with bullying of freshers by seniors, at times, it acquired sexual overtones causing deep embarrassment to students of both sexes.
"Therefore, it should be made cognizable offence with punishment attracting provisions under criminal law, particularly for instances where ragging takes the overtones of sexual harassment/assault," the parliamentary standing committee on home said.
The committee agreed with almost all provisions of the recent ordinance on criminal law including capital punishment for rapists-murderers and repeat offenders.
It also urged the government to dispose of mercy petitions of death row convicts within three months. The committee noted that delay in clearing mercy petitions was being used by convicts to demand commuting their death sentence to life imprisonment in courts.
As reported by TOI earlier, the committee said the president should not consider mercy petitions of rapists-murderers. It suggested that the government make public the reasons for commuting death sentence of such convicts to life imprisonment if it was done in certain circumstances.
After tabling the report in Parliament, committee chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said the panel had wanted to know the reasons behind former president Pratibha Patil commuting the death sentence of rape and murder convicts. He added that since the home ministry refused to share the details citing privilege in discussions between the home minister and the then president, the committee suggested that the government "make the reasons public".
Going beyond the provisions of the ordinance, the panel suggested incorporating Justice J S Verma committee's recommendation to punish officers for their failure to prevent rapes by men serving under their "command". It said superior officers should be held responsible in case a crime committed by his subordinate was in his knowledge and he does not take any timely action. "Omission of such acts on the part of superior officer must be recorded in his official dossier/ACR," the panel said.
The committee also urged the government to frame guidelines so that women are not portrayed in poor light through "obscene, vulgar pictures or scenes".
Suggesting increasing the number of women in police, the panel said the strength of women in police forces should be at least 33% of the total. It asked home ministry to impress upon state governments to take suitable measures in this regard.
Supporting the bill to make acid attacks a specific offence, the committee recommended that in case the convict failed to pay compensation to the victim, the Centre and the state government should make steps to rescue the victim.
Despite suggestions by several members, the panel decided against recommending a relook at the age of juveniles as the home ministry said the matter was being examined by the women and child development ministry. "I raised the issue ... there were opinions that the age of juveniles should be reduced from 18 to 16 years," Naidu said.
Going beyond its mandate to recommend changes in the bill, the panel also suggested improving courts' infrastructure and said adequate funds should be earmarked for setting up fast-track courts..................http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JTS8yMDEzLzAzLzAyI0FyMDEzMDI=&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom
Make sexual ragging a cognizable offence: House panel
Vishwa Mohan,TNN | Mar 2, 2013, 05.46AM IST
NEW DELHI: A parliamentary committee which reviewed the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill inserting stringent punishment for sexual offences on Friday recommended making ragging with sexual overtones in educational institutions a cognizable offence as it felt that limiting punishment to rustication and other disciplinary acts was not enough. It also suggested that mercy petitions of death row convicts be disposed of within three months of receiving such pleas.
Highlighting how minor offences sometimes led to major crimes, the panel said that though the act of ragging often started with bullying of freshers by seniors, at times, it acquired sexual overtones causing deep embarrassment to students of both sexes.
"Therefore, it should be made cognizable offence with punishment attracting provisions under criminal law, particularly for instances where ragging takes the overtones of sexual harassment/assault," the parliamentary standing committee on home said.
The committee agreed with almost all provisions of the recent ordinance on criminal law including capital punishment for rapists-murderers and repeat offenders.
It also urged the government to dispose of mercy petitions of death row convicts within three months. The committee noted that delay in clearing mercy petitions was being used by convicts to demand commuting their death sentence to life imprisonment in courts.
As reported by TOI earlier, the committee said the president should not consider mercy petitions of rapists-murderers. It suggested that the government make public the reasons for commuting death sentence of such convicts to life imprisonment if it was done in certain circumstances.
After tabling the report in Parliament, committee chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said the panel had wanted to know the reasons behind former president Pratibha Patil commuting the death sentence of rape and murder convicts. He added that since the home ministry refused to share the details citing privilege in discussions between the home minister and the then president, the committee suggested that the government "make the reasons public".
Going beyond the provisions of the ordinance, the panel suggested incorporating Justice J S Verma committee's recommendation to punish officers for their failure to prevent rapes by men serving under their "command". It said superior officers should be held responsible in case a crime committed by his subordinate was in his knowledge and he does not take any timely action. "Omission of such acts on the part of superior officer must be recorded in his official dossier/ACR," the panel said.
The committee also urged the government to frame guidelines so that women are not portrayed in poor light through "obscene, vulgar pictures or scenes".
Suggesting increasing the number of women in police, the panel said the strength of women in police forces should be at least 33% of the total. It asked home ministry to impress upon state governments to take suitable measures in this regard.
Supporting the bill to make acid attacks a specific offence, the committee recommended that in case the convict failed to pay compensation to the victim, the Centre and the state government should make steps to rescue the victim.
Despite suggestions by several members, the panel decided against recommending a relook at the age of juveniles as the home ministry said the matter was being examined by the women and child development ministry. "I raised the issue ... there were opinions that the age of juveniles should be reduced from 18 to 16 years," Naidu said.
Going beyond its mandate to recommend changes in the bill, the panel also suggested improving courts' infrastructure and said adequate funds should be earmarked for setting up fast-track courts..................http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JTS8yMDEzLzAzLzAyI0FyMDEzMDI=&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom
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