Chandigarh, Jan 10 (IANS) Pleading for death penalty for gang rape, brutal rape and custodial rape, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said such criminals should not be allowed to seek mercy.
Making suggestions to the Justice J.S. Verma Commission, Badal emphasized speedy investigation, prosecution, expeditious trial and enhanced punishment in all such crimes, a government spokesman said here Thursday.
The Commission was set up following the brutal gang-rape of a young woman in Delhi. The victim died in Singapore after 13 days.
Supporting the minimum of life imprisonment without any parole, remission or pardon for rape, Badal proposed death penalty to be made mandatory where the rape is followed by murder.
He suggested that offences of aggravated sexual assault should be made non-bailable, with minimum punishment of two years and maximum of seven years.
Badal advocated the need for quicker trial of rape cases for quick dispensation of justice.
He said that high courts should set up dedicated courts for such cases to conduct the trial on a day-to-day basis.
