At 80 I'm impatient, govt must understand impatience of youth: JS Verma

It’s been four days since  the Justice JS Verma committee, that was set up to probe crimes against women in India, submitted an impassioned plea consisting of far reaching recommendations and criticisms to the government but has received little more than an acknowledgement and vows to ensure all that can be done will be done.

One could argue in favour of the government and other political parties that they have been busy with Republic Day festivities. Indeed, other than the Law Minister giving a token soundbite on the day the report was received, that they will implement as many of the recommendations as possible, few within the government and other political parties have chosen to speak about the committee’s findings.

But Justice Verma himself is mincing no words when it comes to the lack of action by the government and demanding that urgent steps need to be taken.

“If the government takes time, they should make way for persons who are quicker. If at 80 years, I am so impatient, they should understand the impatience of the youth. What is the government there for?” Verma said in a detailed interview to the Economic Times when asked about government officials deeming him impatient.

When asked about the government’s response to his report, the jurist said that he had sent the committee’s report to the Prime Minister and the only response he wanted was for them to implement it.

And surprisingly enough, while many publicly called for chemical castration and death penalty for those accused of rape, Justice Verma pointed out that they hadn’t included it in their set of recommendations to the government since many women’s organisations in India had opposed it.

The initial reactions to the report so far have ranged from cluelessness to resistance, in some cases. While IPS officials are upset over being held responsible for the actions of their subordinates, Law Minister Ashwani Kumar has already raised questions about why candidates for elections accused in cases should not be allowed to contest in the event that a court has taken cognisance of them.

But the former Supreme Court judge argues that between individual interest and public interest the latter should be allowed to prevail and in that interest, especially if a court applies its mind and takes cognisance of a case against a candidate.

As Firstpost has pointed out , the committee’s recommendations reach well beyond its ambit, taking on patriarchy, attitudes within society and the implementation of the law. It puts an onus on the executive which is supposed to implement law, while sparing them the job of making new ones. Unfortunately what it also does is put a lot of them in an uncomfortable spot given some of its recommendations.

Recommendations like modifications to the Representation of the People Act, Armed Forces Special Powers Act and other contentious legislations while appreciated by the public at large are unlikely to find too many fans among those in charge of executing and making laws.

Understandably the political establishment is choosing to remain silent on the report. Sticking out their neck in support of the report is not in the interest of most political parties that were vehement in their demand for action from the government following the gangrape in Delhi, given the changes it may mean. Perhaps this Budget session of Parliament will finally be only about the budget and the BJP’s criticism of Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde. To hope for more may be to hope for too much.