A Brief Commentary on Verma Committee Report on Criminal Law Amendment with Special Reference to Crime Through Digital Medium

Abstract

The after effect of the Delhi gang rape made it different from other gang-rape cases in India. The huge range of protests by various civil society groups pressured the government to (i) review the existing laws meant for punishing the sexual assault and rape of women, (ii) set-up a separate commission for the same and (iii) review the role of the police in securing safety of women. Resultantly, a separate committee was framed in January, 2013 to review the legal situation and propose new laws if necessary. This committee, presided over by Justice Verma presented the Verma Committee report in early February, 2013, which researched the reasons for failures of the law to secure the safety of women and the lacunas in the existing laws and system, also proposed the inclusion of laws regulating stalking including cyber stalking and voyeurism in its agenda.In this short note, I aim to discuss the out-come of the Verma Committee report on crimes against women especially when committed with a digital aide. This short note will be divided into three main subheadings including the introduction chapter. The second chapter will deal with the practical outcomes of the Verma committee report emphasising crime against women through or with the aid of digital technology and the third chapter will provide a conclusion.

Keywords: Cyber crime against women, Stalking, voyeurism, Verma Committee report, therapeutic jurisprudence, feminist movement