GoM sorts out divide in govt on anti-rape law

With unprecedented speed, a Group of Ministers headed by finance minister P. Chidambaram on Wednesday sorted out differences within the government on clauses in a new stringent anti-rape law by advising lowering of the age of consent for sex from 18 to 16 years, and stern punishment for stalking and voyeurism. The Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill will now go to the Cabinet for reconsideration on Thursday. The age of consent was highly contentious, due to which it was referred to the GoM. Communications minister Kapil Sibal said he hoped the Cabinet will clear it on Thursday. The GoM suggested sustained stalking be made a non-bailable offence, while voyeurism as a first offence could be bailable. Repeat offences of voyeurisn, inappropriate touch, gesture and remarks could be non-bailable offences, sources said. The GoM decided to retain the term “rape”, and treat it gender-specific, instead of making it gender-neutral. A move for strong penal provisions against those filing false complaints were dropped, with a consensus in the GoM that existing laws were adequate in such cases. Sources said the law ministry wanted to insert a new Section 193(b) on false cases, but after strong opposition by Sushilkuamr Shinde, Krishna Tirath and M. Veerappa Moily this was dropped. They argued rape cases had a low conviction rate of 26 per cent, and more safeguards would only lead to fewer rapes being reported.