The Government has set up a Commission of Inquiry to identify lapses and fix responsibility in the gang rape of a 23 year-old girl in a moving bus in Delhi on December 16.

According to a decision taken by the Cabinet in its meeting on Wednesday, the one-person Commission will be headed by former Delhi High Court judge, Justice Usha Mehra. The commission will suggest measures to make Delhi and NCR safer for women. It will submit its report within three months, which will be tabled in Parliament along with action taken by the Government.

This Cabinet discussed the issue, briefed by Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde on the incident that shocked the nation and triggered widespread protests. At the meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh several Ministers expressed anguish at the incident and said the Government should walk the extra mile to ensure recovery of the victim and instil a sense of safety among women.

Announcing the decision to set up the Commission, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram appealed to public to “believe” that steps were being taken to find lasting solution to the “problem that has plagued all metropolitan cities”.

The Commission will be in addition to the three-member committee headed by former Chief Justice of India, J.S Verma, which is to suggest amendments in the law to provide for quicker trial and more stringent punishment in “aggravated sexual assault” cases amid demands for death penalty.

>shishir.sinha@thehindu.co.in

Related Topics