OPEN SUGGESTIONS TO HON’BLE “JUSTICE VERMA COMMITTEE” ON RAPE SANTANCE: 1

OPEN SUGGESTIONS TO HON’BLE “JUSTICE VERMA COMMITTEE” ON RAPE SANTANCE:

1.       CAPITAL SENTENCE- I personally feel that death penalty will not ultimately help because death penalty can only endanger the rape victim, as rapists might try to kill the victim to wipe out evidence. There is death sentence for murder, but has it helped to reduce murders?

2.       Death penalty for rapists will not help. The judges who will adjucate the rape matter may not agree in his own conscious and can give the benefit of doubt to the accused who is coming from the various backgrounds of the society. It will be better if life sentence is the only punishment for rape considering it for whole of live i.e till he is alive, or in some mitigating circumstances it can be for a period of 30 to 40 years.

3.       The most drastic part of the death penalty can only endanger the life of the rape victim, for removing evidence the rapists can try to kill the victim because mostly rape is held in isolated place where nobody may save the victim. Death penalty will only endanger the life of the rape victim. For removing evidence, the rapists can try to kill the victim. Mostly, women are raped in secluded places, who will save the victim.

4.       The present laws were enough to handle rape cases. Death sentence is for the rarest type of crime. The present laws are sufficient to handle rapists, he felt. There are enough laws to handle rape cases, the court can opt for death penalty in the rarest of rare cases. Since there is a Supreme Court guideline, there is no need to change the law.

5.       INVESTIGATION / POLICE-There should be zero tolerance against persons negligent in handling rape cases. Investigating officers should be held accountable. Investigations need to be time-bound in rape cases since delays are frequent and attempts are made to buy witnesses. Use of DNA samples could help to nab rapists

6.       FAST TRACK COURT-There is a need to fast track courts to handle rape cases. Police need to be sensitized. Often rapists enjoy political patronage and the power of muscle and money.

7.       EDUCATION-We make laws, but it cannot reform characters of rapists. Education is needed from childhood to inculcate moral values. Parents and school has to train to control the animal instinct in us. "Women are not treated equally with men in our society, so children should be taught to respect women. Rape is not a question of sex, it is a question of power.