New Delhi, July 17: Government has received suggestions from various quarters including the National Commission for Women for amendments to the provisions relating to rape laws, Lok Sabha was informed.
The Law Commission of India in its 172nd report on ‘Review of Rape Laws’ has recommended changes for widening scope of the offence in Section 375 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and to make it gender neutral, Union Minister for Law and Justice M Veerappa Moily stated in a written reply to a question.
He was asked whether government has received any proposal regarding enactment of stringent laws to deal with rape cases in the country.
The Commission has also recommended for insertion of a new Section 376 E in IPC to deal with “unlawful sexual contact”, Moily added.
The Commission has recommended deletion of Section 377 (carnal intercourse against the order of nature) of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and enhancement of punishment in Section 509 (act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of IPC, he said.
“Various other changes have been recommended in Section 376 (punishment for rape) and 376 A (intercourse by a man with his wife during separation) to 376 D (intercourse by any member of the management or staff of hospital with any woman in that hospital) of IPC,” the minister said.
The Law Commission has also recommended changes in the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973 and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, he said.
“The Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act, 2008, inter-alia, contains a proposal regarding payment of compensation to and rehabilitation of victims including victims of rape,” Moily stated.
The minister informed the House that the Ministry of Women and Child Development has included a scheme ‘Relief to and Rehabilitation of Rape Victims” in the 11th Five Year Plan for implementation.
“The proposed scheme envisages provision of immediate financial relief to the victims and also for their rehabilitation,” he added.
-Agencies