Government Sponsored Shelter For The Rapist

It took years of injustice and innumerable cases of rape for one incident to finally capture the public's attention. This time, people didn't need a leader to awaken them from their slumber; their repressed anger demanded an outlet. The voices that had been silenced for years coalesced into a collective outcry that could no longer be ignored or suppressed. This led to changes in the outdated laws on sexual offenses. The Justice Verma Panel identified "failure of governance" as the root cause of sexual crime, criticizing the government, police, and the public's apathy. It recommended significant changes. While many recommendations are commendable, the panel's stance on rapists remains too lenient.

The key points of contention include:

Rape offenders will face rigorous imprisonment of no less than seven years, potentially extending to life imprisonment.

Punishment for causing death or a persistent vegetative state will be rigorous imprisonment of no less than 20 years, potentially extending to life imprisonment.

Gang-rape will carry a punishment of no less than 20 years, potentially extending to life imprisonment.

Gang-rape followed by death will result in life imprisonment.

Firstly, why is there no capital punishment for rapists? Any unemployed, desperate individual could secure a permanent place to live, eat, and die if they commit rape. Should this be considered government-sponsored shelter for rapists? It's worth noting that this money comes from taxpayers. Imagine a family whose daughter has suffered such a horrendous crime, paying taxes to keep the criminal alive, potentially for life.

Secondly, why differentiate between rape, gang rape, and rape followed by murder? Rape is already a heinous crime deserving of the most severe punishment, yet the panel has divided the penalties based on the severity of the crime itself.

The Indian Judicial System deserves criticism for making rape appear like an opportunity or a blessing in disguise for the depraved and morally bankrupt.