New Delhi: Hitting out at political and religious leaders for making controversial comments on women, Justice JS Verma Committee has recommended framing of laws to disqualify politicians who issue statements "reinforcing gender bias".
"It is shocking to note that even after the recent horrific incident of gangrape, many political leaders, including members of Parliament/state legislatures, spiritual gurus with large followings and other eminent persons have been making statements reinforcing the gender bias. Some have even blamed the victim for having facilitated the rape by her own behaviour," the committee observed.
It criticised controversial comments of religious leader Asaram Bapu, Communist Party of India (Marxist) member Anisur Rahman, INLD leader Om Prakash Chautala, Congress leader and Cabinet Minister Sri Prakash Jaiswal as those of "worst kind" on women. In its 630-page report, the committee even quoted Asaram's statement made after the brutal rape and murder of 23-year-old paramedical student here.
"Only 5-6 people are not the culprits. The victim is as guilty as her rapists. She should have called the culprits brothers and begged before them to stop. This could have saved her dignity and life. Can one hand clap? I don't think so," the panel quoted Asaram's statement.
The committee emphasised that these "deep rooted prejudices" have to be eliminated for the efficacy of any laws on the subject. "Many of them have reflected this gender bias contrary to the constitutional mandate after swearing 'to bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India', in addition to their fundamental duty 'to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals'," the committee said.
"The time has come to enact laws providing for the subsequent disqualification of elected representatives on this ground alone," he said.
'Lawmakers involved in heinous crimes should quit'
The panel also asked MPs and MLAs having heinous cases pending against them to voluntarily quit their seats as a mark of respect to Parliament, legislatures and the Constitution. This is one of the suggestions put forward by Justice Verma committee which went into improving laws dealing with crime against women.
In its recommendations, the three-member panel dealt with reforms in respect of political establishment and pitched for amendments in Representation of People Act, 1951 to deal with criminalisation of politics. "We have suggested amendments to Section 33A requiring the making of a declaration about the pendency of any criminal case, whether cognisance has been taken of it. A certificate from the Registrar of the High Court should be necessary for the validity of the nomination.
"We also suggest that, in the event cognisance has been taken by a magistrate of an offence. The candidate ought to be disqualified from participating in the electoral process," it said. Currently, a person convicted of any offence and sentenced to more than two years imprisonment shall be disqualified from the date of conviction and for a further period of six years after his release. The panel also demanded that a candidate who fails to disclose a charge or the commission of an offence should be disqualified subsequently.
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