Justice Verma report: Will the government live up to the challenge of providing safer environment for women?

New Delhi: Being on time is rare for committees in India. Justice JS Verma Committee submitted its recommendations to Home Ministry within the time given on what can be done to make women safe. The retired judge spared no one - on the firing line were police DGPs, ministries and the governing class.

The government quickly assured that they will act on the recommendations. Law Minister Ashwani Kumar said, "I assume Justice Verma committee will come out with very comprehensive report and once the government has had a chance to look at these, whatever is deemed consistent with fairness and justice, we will do. We will certainly do a follow through. That is why we have given broad terms of reference to them. I can assure you that this will receive government's top most priority."

There were no reactions from the DGPs and the Delhi commissioner and Congress' new vice president Rahul Gandhi on his first day in office chose not to comment on the governance deficit issue raised by Justice Verma. Rahul said, "I don't want to get into specifics. You have heard my general sentiments."

In the 631-page report, Justice Verma has not just recommended changes in sexual offence laws but also thrown a challenge at the government to take action in a month and present it before Parliament. Given that he has also highlighted bad governance, will the government live up to the challenge?

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