Cabinet members, including minister for mines Sis Ram Ola, and science and technology minister Kapil Sibal had objected to the amendments in a meeting in September. Ola, who hails from Jhunjhunu, raised several issues. He said the proposals would challenge existing mores. “What would happen to the Sati temples and how would the government deal with the tradition of worship at these temples,” he asked. Sibal had pointed out certain legal lapses in the bill that holds the panchayat and onlookers responsible for “participation” in bride-burning. The bill had recommended that the village be heavily fined and the panchayat be made responsible for alerting the police and the district magistrate to any such incident. The proposed legislation recommended that coercing a woman to commit Sati be made a non-bailable offence. The amendments were cleared by a GoM in August 2007.
GOVT SAYS NO TO MOVE FOR STRICTER SATI LAW
The United Progressive Alliance government has dropped attempts to strengthen the anti-Sati law, more than 20 years after it was first enacted. The amendments to the Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act, 1987, had met with resistance in the Cabinet over some clauses. The proposed law was expected to increase prison terms for those committing as…
The United Progressive Alliance government has dropped attempts to strengthen the anti-Sati law, more than 20 years after it was first enacted. The amendments to the Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act, 1987, had met with resistance in the Cabinet over some clauses. The proposed law was expected to increase prison terms for those committing as well as glorifying the practice. Some officials of the women and child development ministry reportedly said the amendments have been dropped following political pressure.