Ordinance is in response to public demand: Chidambaram

Asserting that the government has not rejected any recommendation of the Justice (Retd) J S Verma committee, Finance Minister P Chidambaram Monday said it is hoped that the ordinance promulgated to award harsher sentences to those convicted for crime against women will deter potential criminals.

He also said that all suggestions made by the panel such as reducing the juvenile age, marital rape and amending AFSPA are under active consideration and a decision to incorporate them will be taken at a later stage.

"The government hopes that the stringent provisions in the ordinance will have a deterrent effect on potential criminals during the period between now and the date on which the new law will be enacted by Parliament," Chidambaram told reporters during a briefing by the group of ministers (Media).

He said the ordinance promulgated on Sunday contains 22 clauses and of these, 11 clauses have been taken from the pending Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2012, either wholly or substantially.

Chidambaram said there was a universal demand that laws must be amended immediately and the government came to the conclusion that there was a strong case to promulgate it. He said although criminal law can apply only prospectively, the changes made in procedural laws through the ordinance would apply to ongoing trials.

Information and Broadcasting minister Manish Tewari, who was also present at the briefing, said it is obligatory for the government to introduce a Bill to replace the ordinance and to get it passed in Parliament within six weeks.

Chidambaram said there would be more consultations and the Bill to replace the ordinance will be introduced in the budget session of Parliament. "There will be discussions with political parties. There will be a debate in Parliament when the Bill is introduced to replace the ordinance," he said.

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