The Verma Committee, also known as the Committee on Amendments to Criminal Law, was appointed by the Government of India in 2012 to review and suggest changes to the criminal laws in the country in the wake of the brutal gang-rape and murder of a young woman in Delhi.
The Verma Committee, headed by retired Justice J.S. Verma, submitted its report in January 2013. The key recommendations of the committee were:
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Expansion of the definition of rape: The committee recommended expanding the definition of rape to include acts other than penile-vaginal penetration, such as oral and anal penetration.
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Introduction of new offences: The committee recommended the introduction of new offences such as stalking, acid attacks, and voyeurism, and suggested stringent punishment for these offences.
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Changes to criminal procedure: The committee recommended changes to the criminal procedure to make it more victim-friendly, including the provision of legal assistance and support services to victims.
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Improvements to the criminal justice system: The committee recommended measures to improve the criminal justice system, including the establishment of special courts for the trial of sexual offences, and the training of police and other officials to deal with such cases.
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Strengthening of laws against sexual harassment at workplace: The committee recommended strengthening of laws against sexual harassment at workplace and suggested the establishment of internal complaints committees in all workplaces with more than 10 employees.
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Enhancing punishment for rape and sexual assault: The committee recommended enhancing punishment for rape and sexual assault, including the imposition of the death penalty in the most severe cases.
The recommendations of the Verma Committee were widely debated and discussed, and many of them were subsequently incorporated into the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013, which brought about significant changes to the criminal laws in India.
