-The Hindu Seeks an exception for the definition of marital rape in the existing laws Backing the long-standing demand of the women’s activists that marital rape be considered as an offence, the Justice J.S. Verma committee has said marriage or any other intimate relationship between a man and a woman is “not a valid” defence against sexual crimes like rape. The three-member panel, which was constituted to recommend amendments to criminal laws in...

-The Economic Times The Justice Verma Committee, set up to recommend reforms to deal with sexual assault crimes, has come out with a comprehensive and laudable report. Not only did the committee take on board suggestions from a range of academics, activists, lawyers et al, but also came out with the report dot on time. Now, the ball is firmly in the government's court; and as the report notes, unless...

-DNA 1. The equality of women, being integral to the Constitution, its denial is a sacrilege and a constitutional violation. Sustained constitutional violations mean that governance is not in accordance with the Constitution. A fortiori, all limbs of the State - the executive, the legislature as well as the judiciary -must respect women’s rights and must treat them in a non-discriminatory manner. 2. As a primary recommendation, all marriages in India (irrespective...

-The Hindu The government must allow the online filing of first information reports in rape cases as that alone will ensure mandatory and automatic registration of complaints On January 18, 2013, Delhi police chief Neeraj Kumar announced that Zero First Information Reports (FIRs) may be registered on the basis of a woman’s statement at any police station irrespective of jurisdiction. This means women can file an FIR at any police station and...

-The Hindustan Times The Delhi Police, the Delhi government and some central departments are likely to face the flak in Justice Verma two-volume report. The report will be submitted to the home ministry and will be made public on Wednesday. Exactly a month after it was set up, the panel headed by former chief justice of India JS Verma, with former high court chief justice Leila Seth and former solicitor general Gopal...