Catholic forum supports Verma panel’s stand on death penalty

Supporting Justice Verma Committee's opposition to death penalty as punishment in rape cases, members of the Catholic Bishop Community of India stressed on the importance of reformative programmes while dealing with the guilty.

"To end a life is not the solution to the problem. The guilty should realise what suffering his actions have caused," Fr Frederick D'Souza, Executive Director, Caritas India, said.

"We need to understand the factors that lead to a person committing a crime. There were so many buses plying in the city which did not have the needed permits at the time of the gangrape incident. If you hang one or two persons, the situation will not change," he said.

Caritas India, a wing of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) had organised a conference on violence against women in children on Friday.

Director of Joint Women's Programme Jyotsna Chatterjee said, "Patriarchy has taken control of the society. We still uphold traditions and customary practices which may not be in tune with our constitutional rights."

Delhi gangrape victim's family seeks to meet Sonia

The family of Delhi gangrape victim has sought an appointment with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi to apprise her of their woes and demands.

The father of the girl said on phone that he has sought an appointment with Sonia Gandhi. Her office has asked the family to wait for some time in keeping with her pressing commitments, he said. Meanwhile, the Delhi Police on Friday said they have received the post-mortem report of the paramedic student from Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore, where she succumbed to injuries on December 29.

Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar said the report is likely to be submitted to the court on Saturday, when the court will issue the order on the framing of charges.

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