Govt may change law to make sati attempt non-offence
Press Trust Of India / New Delhi April 09, 2007
The government is close to finalising changes in the anti-Sati laws, that include treating women attempting to commit Sati as a victim and not as an offender.
A group of ministers (GoM) headed by Union HRD Minister Arjun Singh will tomorrow meet to finalise a slew of amendments to the Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act, 1987, proposed by the women and child development (WCD) ministry.
"Among the amendments that are to be considered for approval by the GoM is that the woman who attempts to commit Sati should be treated as a victim rather than an offender who has tried to commit suicide," a senior ministry official said.
The ministry wants the law to take a more sensitive view of woman and treat her as a victim being forced to commit suicide.
The Sati Act, in its current form, prescribes a punishment of up to one year and or a fine for attempt to commit Sati.
The changes proposed by the WCD Ministry include prescription of harsher punishment, including for glorification of Sati.
Govt may change law to make sati attempt non-offence
Press Trust Of India / New Delhi Apr 09, 2007, 23:54 IST
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