With just a couple of days left for the Budget session of Parliament to begin, the Union Law and Justice Ministry which is preparing a Bill to replace the Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance, 2013, laying down measures to check crimes against women, has sought the views of the State governments on the legislation.
The ordinance was based on the recommendations of the Justice J.S. Verma Committee, which was constituted after the December 16 gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old physiotherapy student on a bus in New Delhi.
Informed sources said the letter seeking comments of the State governments and the Union Territories was sent last week, and so far none had replied.
The views were important as the law related to amendments to various sections of the Indian Penal Code. Inputs from the States would help the Centre in debates on the Bill in Parliament, the sources said.
President Pranab Mukherjee gave his consent for the ordinance on February 3. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International urged MPs to “substantially amend or replace the new criminal law on violence against women.”
