The Delhi government appointed a Group of Ministers (GoM) on Monday, to examine whether the existing law can be amended to ensure death penalty or life imprisonment to those involved in raping minors and to lower the cut-off age of juveniles found guilty in such cases. The GoM may also explore the possibility of setting up special police stations.
The decision to appoint the GoM, which will finalise the report within 15 days, was taken at a Cabinet meeting – presided by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal – to discuss the law and order situation in the wake of the rape of two minors including a two-and-half-year-old child in the city.
Briefing reporters, Kejriwal said a Commission of Inquiry will be set up within a week to examine issues relating to women safety and that a list of rape cases pending in various courts in Delhi will be prepared to fast-track them.
Since CrPC and IPC are subjects in concurrent list over which Delhi government has executive powers, the GoM will examine and submit a report on whether the Delhi government can set up special police stations to register and investigate crime against women in those cases where women do not get satisfactory response from local police stations.
— Arvind Kejriwal
He said the GoM will submit a concrete proposal so that an amendment bill can be tabled in next session of the Assembly. The Chief Minister said the Delhi government was ready to spend funds to set up new courts and improve existing infrastructure in this regard.
The GoM will also examine whether the investigating officer can be held accountable in case of delay in filing charge sheets relating to cases of sexual violence against women, he said. The GoM will also suggest measures for expeditious delivery of justice.
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