Delhi govt favours public humiliation of accused in rape cases

Publicly humiliating rapists and letting the rape victim have a say in the punishment to be given to the accused were some of the suggestions given by the Delhi government’s Child Welfare Committee to the Justice Verma Committee looking into anti-rape laws.

Publicly humiliating rapists and letting the rape victim have a say in the punishment to be given to the accused were some of the suggestions given by the Delhi government’s Child Welfare Committee to the Justice Verma Committee looking into anti-rape laws.

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Sources said Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has also sent the government’s suggestions to the committee.

The government has demanded capital punishment in case of a gang rape in which the accused has physically hurt the victim.

"It was felt that the present law is not acting as a deterrent and that stringent laws were needed. It has also been suggested that there should be categorisation of rape and the punishment should be accorded depending on the severity of the case," said a senior Delhi government official.

“Before pronouncing the sentence, if the victim is alive, she should be heard regarding the quantum and type of punishment she wishes to give the accused rather than the court declaring the sentence wholly on the basis of trial,” said Ajay K Singh, chairperson of east and northeast CWC.

The CWC has also suggested that in case of convictions lesser than death and life imprisonment, the convict should face public humiliation — their face and body should be blackened and they should be paraded in public under police protection. This will create public awareness against such crimes, the CWC said.

Justice Verma committee had held its first meeting on December 26 but had sought suggestions from the public till January 5.