'Verma panel recommendations will be top priority'

The government will accord top priority to implementation of Justice J S Verma Committee's recommendations for dealing with crimes against women, Union Law Minister Ashwani Kumar said on Wednesday, emphasising the need for removing procedural inadequacies for speedy delivery of justice.

The government expects comprehensive proposals and it would do whatever deemed fit to improve the judicial process to achieve the objective of dealing firmly with crime against women, Kumar told reporters in Mumbai.

"The recommendations would be tabled before the Cabinet and later Parliament for constitutional amendments. Procedural inadequacies that lead to inordinate delays need to be addressed," the minister said.

The Verma committee received around 80,000 suggestions and wrapped up its work within 29 days. Justice Verma, the head of the three-member panel, was approached by the Central government for the task on December 23.

The other members of the panel are former Himachal Pradesh Chief Justice Leila Seth and former Solicitor General Gopal Subramaniam.

Kumar said the Usha Mehra commission, set up to inquire into various aspects of the shocking incident of rape and brutal assault of a young woman in Delhi last month and suggest measures to improve the safety and security of women, particularly in Delhi and NCR, will also submit its report later this month or first week of February.When asked about the demand for reducing the juvenile age from 18 to 16 years, he said the issue required to be considered given the changing social norms.

"We need to apply our mind," he said.