What is the relevant punishment for rapists
Rape is such an offence which causes the victim and her family to suffer for all the life where the victim is totally innocent. Rape is one of the most heinous crimes committed by a person to control, dominate and force the other to his own will. It is a world wide phenomenon. Whatever reasons might be behind it social, religious or wars, it carries the shame, anger and emotional trauma. Several instances come to the light when the victims want to commit suicide instead of living in this world. The victim further suffers physically, psychologically and socially as well. Every 5 minutes a crime is committed against women. Most women are still very oppressed and don’t have equal rights.
The conviction rate of rape in India is low below 20%. Unless the conviction rate goes up there is little to deter the criminals. Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code 1860 says “whosoever commits rape shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than 7 years but which may be for life or for a term which may extend to 10 years and shall be liable to fine”. It cannot be a right approach to say that the punishment provided under Section 376 of IPC is not proper. The victim has to suffer for the whole life while the culprit has to suffer only for 10 or 14 years. It is not justice. Even after 55 years of independence, we are unable to provide basic human rights to the women of our country.
Also the inefficiency and corruption in the police are responsible for the low rate of conviction in most of the cases relating to women. Awarding death penalty to a rapist will not be of much use. If such a harsh law is made, it would lead to other consequences there would be more murders and rape of women. The solution lies in taking resort to deep social changes. Why do some people indulge in such behaviour? Can we address their early childhoods and social upbringing? I think we can and we should strike at the very roots of those factors which lead to such deviant tendencies.
Juhi Singh
(MBA-ITBM 2013-15)
