Action on Verma Committee report from Budget Session: Minister

NEW DELHI: In a bid to display its seriousness and urgency, the government will start action on the recommendations of Justice J S Verma Committee on crime against women from the coming Budget Session of Parliament.

Making this clear, Law Minister Ashwani Kumar said the views of various ministries are being sought on the report which has recommended amendments to the law to provide for more stringent punishment for crimes against women but not death sentence.

"The Cabinet will deliberate upon it and depending upon the view that the Cabinet takes, the matter will then have to be carried through the normal Parliamentary processes... We hope to be able to take some action during the Budget session of Parliament," Kumar told PTI in an interview.

The Budget Session is expected to begin in the third week of next month.

On the possible action that the government could take urgently, the Minister said if amendment is required in any law, the government will move to do it.

In this context, he referred to the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill which the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home is examining. "If there is a need to refer it (the Verma Committee report) to the standing committee, we will do so."