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Justice Verma Committee Report
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Criminal Amendment Bill, 2013
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Age of consent
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Lower age of consent for consensual sex to 16 years
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Retains age of consent at 18 years
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Gang rape
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20 years imprisonment and life imprisonment for rape and murder. Refrained from recommending death penalty
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20 years imprisonment
and death penalty for repeat offenders
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Sexual assault/ rape
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Seven years to life imprisonment and compensation to victim to meet at least medical bills
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Seven years to life imprisonment and fine
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Stalking, voyeurism
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Include them under sexual assault as non-bailable offences
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Included but first offence made bailable
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Recording of victim’s statement
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Videography of statement from victim should be made mandatory
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NA (not accepted)
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Rape by defence personnel
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Amend controversial section of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) so that armed force personnel, who commit crimes against women, can be tried under ordinary criminal law
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NA
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Electoral reforms
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Ban politicians facing sexual charges from contesting elections
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NA
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Other recommendations of the JVC which the government has rejected/is yet to act upon include:
• Establish a new constitutional authority akin to CAG for education and discrimination against women and children.
• Implement police reforms and enforce autonomy of police.
• Police officers should be duty bound to assist victims of sexual offences irrespective of jurisdiction.
• Members of Parliament with sexual assault/rape cases booked against them must step down.
• Discontinue the two-finger test conducted to determine the laxity of vaginal muscles.
• Ban khap panchayats from acting as parallel legal forums.
• Public transport should be made safer for women.
• Special commissioners should be appointed to address the issues of violence against women in conflict areas such as Kashmir, Chattisgarh and Manipur, and armed forces must be brought under common law.
• The number of judges should be increased with due consideration to quality.
• Enact a Bills of Rights for Women
• Introduce gender sensitisation and sex education in education institutions