Delhi gangrape: Shinde welcomes death sentence for inhuman crimes

Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has supported the judgement in the Delhi gangrape case whole-heartedly saying it will deter criminals and send out a stern message.

He said, “I am very happy with the order, it will send out a stern message. The law has sent out a very strong message to these heinous criminals.”

According to him, the crime was inhuman and a blot on humanity. He also said, “The law had provisions for rarest of rare cases and there were death sentences awarded even before the Verma Commission’s intervention.” However, he added that after the Verma Commission and the Mehra Committee’s report, the law has become even stronger.

When asked if there was immense government and public pressure on the lawyers to award a death sentence, he said, “Judicial authorities work according to law, they cannot jump the law.”

“Justice has been given to the victim and her family. When the case comes to the home ministry, we will take necessary steps. The new law takes action against police officials who refuse to register such crimes as well. There is no need to pressurise any government department, they will take necessary steps,” he added.

When asked about the Mumbai gangrape case, he said, “I am quite sure the Maharashtra government will expedite the Mumbai gangrape case. There is no difficulty in nominating these cases to the fast track courts.”