-The Hindu The comprehensive reforms suggested by Justice Verma and his colleagues will protect the right to dignity, autonomy and freedom of victims of sexual assault and rape Starting with Tarabai Shinde’s spirited defence of the honour of her sister countrywomen in 1882, women’s movements in India have been marked by persistent and protracted struggles. But despite this rich and varied history, we have in recent weeks found ourselves shocked at the...

-The Times of India Taking strong cognizance of sexual offences committed by armed forces personnel in conflict zones, Justice J S Verma committee report has not only recommended amendments to the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) but even questioned its continuance in such areas. The report has recommended that the Act's provision of seeking sanction from the central government before initiating any legal action against an armed forces personnel should be...

-The Times of India In keeping with the public outrage over Nirbhaya's gang rape, the Justice J S Verma Committee has raised the bar of punishment for a wide range of existing and proposed sexual offences even as it rejected the demand for introducing death for rape. The report, released on Wednesday, has proposed codification of a stringent alternative to the life sentence, evolved through judicial activism in the last five years....

-The Hindu The Justice Verma Committee formed to look into crimes against women on Wednesday ruled against recommending the death penalty even in the rarest of the rare rape cases, and also did not favour lowering the age of a juvenile from 18 to 16. The committee, which was tasked with suggesting legal reforms to deal with sexual assault cases, however said the minimum sentence for a rapist should be enhanced from...

-The Hindu The youth of the country who came out on the streets protesting against the failure of the government to ensure the safety and security of women received a pat on their back from Justice J.S. Verma. Commending their “peaceful” and “mature” protests, he said it was this clamour for good governance that paved the way for the constitution of the Committee on Amendments to the Criminal Law. Hundreds of thousands...