Delhi Gang-Rape: Ruling Party In India Proposes Chemical Castration Of Rapists

In a move aimed at curbing increasing incidence of crimes against women, Congress, the ruling party of India has decided to propose stringent measures including chemical castration of rapists.

The draft note of the Congress party's bill is yet to be finalized and will be submitted to the Justice J.S. Verma-led Committee set up by the Indian government following the public outrage over the Delhi gang-rape, a Press Trust of India (PTI) report quoting sources said.

The bill reportedly includes provisions for stringent laws including imprisonment up to 30 years for rapists, setting up of fast-track courts apart from chemical castration of rapists and redefining the juvenile act by reducing the age limit of those legally identified as youngster.

Demands for revamping the juvenile justice act and lowering the age limit to 15 years from the existing 18 years was raised by legal experts following the Delhi-rape case. One of the rapists arrested in the case, who reportedly inflicted maximum damage to the victim is a juvenile.

According to the legal experts, the under-aged rapist will be let-off with mild punishment for the ghastly act, as the juvenile law provisions do not provide for stringent punishments.

The bill was framed after a series of discussions with the Women and Child Development Ministry, headed by Krishna Tirath along with stakeholders, during which suggestions were collected.

Congress Chief Sonia Gandhi also held a series of meetings Dec. 23, when she met with the protesting activists where the provisions in the proposed draft bill were discussed.

The ministry will summarize the suggestions and create a draft bill that would be submitted to the Verma Commission, sources told PTI.

"There is no government draft till now. The summary that we submit to the J.S. Verma Committee will be the first written document on which the new law will be based,” sources said.

The proposal of the Women and Child Ministry will undergo legal scrutiny and will be vetted by the Home Ministry and the Law Ministry following which government is likely to bring in an ordinance.