Gang rape is perhaps the most heinous crime that not only wounds a woman physically, it kills her soul. Although this crime is not rare in the list of appalling global crime incidents, recently India has witnessed this antisocial episode at random in some of its most significant cities. One of these incidents were the Nirvoya incident of Delhi where the victim pathetically died after one week despite vehement efforts of doctors to save her from the severe injury she got from the gang rape incident.
Doctors could not save Nirvoya but the entire nation exploded with roaring protest again this uncivilized brutal activity and the whole society asked for amendment of law in India. Rape in India was always considered as the most terrible crime incident; however, after this Nirvoya massacre common people of India have demanded for a change in law in demand of the severest punishment for the rapists, regardless their age and domicile status. On mass appeal, the Supreme Court has declared the law of rights for the rape victim women so that they feel that they are not oppressed, exploited, or plagued under social grimacing.
Within one week of the incident Indian government set a panel under the chairmanship of former Chief Justice of Indian Supreme Court JK Verma for deciding on the best possible amendments of the criminal law for providing stringent punishment by ultra-fast trial for rapists as well as criminals who have assaulted women. The panel within one month submitted its recommendation based on which the present amendments of law for establishment of women rights has taken place.
Modification in rape laws in India
Pro tem on the endorsements of the Verma committee, Parliament approved the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2013 that broadened the explanation of rape and also declared death penalty in rape cases causing death of the victim or bringing her in an asexual state. It also shaped numerous new crimes such as causing serious injury through acid attacks, sexual nuisance, usage of criminal power on a woman with offensive intention to disrobe, ghoulishness, and persecution.
Setting of Fast-track courts
As per this amendment Indian Supreme Court has instructed to High courts to channelize fast-track cases related to women assault and crimes via six special courts set in Delhi. The Delhi High Court issued instructions to all extra session judges in Delhi that sexual assault cases on women will be cared on a day-to-day basis. Additionally, Delhi High Court has directed the Home Ministry to upsurge the integer of police control room (PCR) vans in the Capital city for sterner watching of the streets and confirm better safety for women.
Restriction against colored glass
High Court has ordered the city police to strengthen the clampdown against all automobiles with colored glass, black films, and curtains as the Nirvoya crime took place in a bus with tinted glass.
We can better hope that Nirvoya incident will never occur again. But in the word of Thomas Hardy only we can ask society when “the recuperative power of nature is denied to maidenhood alone” why women are the only victim? At least Indian constitution has offered a protection for these social losses that they are not left alone, they can live fearless “nirvoya”. Perhaps this confidence is the result of the change in Rape Law recently introduced for women protection.
