The Congress party wants the death penalty for convicts in the ‘rarest of rare’ rape cases but is not in favour of chemical castration.

The party’s suggestions to the JS Verma Committee, formed to recommend amendments to strengthen the criminal law after the brutal gang rape of a 23-year-old woman in Delhi, also include a sentence of imprisonment for life for convicts and freedom for victims to file complaints in any police station.

While demanding that rapists should spend the rest of their lives behind bars, the party has also demanded denial of parole to convicts.

After formulating its stand in the party’s core committee meeting on Friday, the Congress forwarded its suggestions to retired chief justice JS Verma on Saturday.

The party also favours amendments in the Juvenile Justice Act to do away with current leniencies for minors who are convicted in heinous sexual assault crimes. It also wants economic and rehabilitation packages for victims.