Moily for tough law against sexual abuse

NEW DELHI: With the Ruchika case bringing out inadequacy of laws on child abuse to the surface, law minister Veerappa Moily has decided to convene a meeting of concerned ministries to discuss a legislation against sexual harassment.

The assurance was given to a delegation of women activists who met Mr Moily on Tuesday with a demand for a comprehensive bill against sexual assault, particularly child abuse. “Our laws do not address sexual abuse of children. India must be one of the few countries in the world where there is no specific law to deal with it,” CPM polit bureau member Brinda Karat, who led the delegation of representatives of five women’s organisations, said.

Rape laws only recognise sexual crimes involving penile penetration. The sexual molestation law covers all sexual offences “that outrage the modesty of the victim”. However, molestation is bailable and attracts only punishment of a maximum of two years in jail and a fine of few thousand rupees.

Ms Karat said child abuse laws should be more stringent, pointing out that statistics of child abuse in India were cause for worry. The women’s outfits had suggested a bill to address sexual abuse three years ago, but the government failed to act on it. Ms Karat said the minister responded “sympathetically” to the recommendations given by the delegation.

Mr Moily admitted the need for a stringent law against molestation. “The offence will be non-bailable...We are examining the investigation process. Questioning morals of the victim of sexual abuse and antecedents should not be a criteria,” he said. The law ministry has already taken steps for a new Sexual Offences (Special Courts) Bill, 2010, to fast track sexual offences. “This will cut short the procedure. It will make it mandatory for the trial to be completed within six months,” Mr Moily said.

Women’s groups have demanded amendments in definitional and substantive aspects of the rape law and associated set of laws which deal with sexual harassment, molestation, unnatural offences, kidnapping and abduction of girls and women if it is sincere to curb violence against women. In a letter to Mr Moily, they pointed out lacunae in the present laws dealing with sexual violence.