The tough law to tackle crimes against women was today referred to an Empowered Group of Ministers as differences persisted in the Cabinet over certain provisions pertaining to stalking, voyeurism and lowering the age of consensual sex to 16 years.
The special meeting of the Union Cabinet convened this morning could not reach consensus even after hour-long deliberations on the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill with differing views being expressed on some other issues also like replacing the term "rape" -- which is more gender specific -- with "sexual assault" -- which is gender neutral.
Thereafter, the decision was taken to refer to an EGoM headed by Finance Minister P Chidambaram the Bill which seeks to replace the Ordinance issued on February three.
Law Minister Ashwani Kumar, who will be part of the EGoM, said the group has been asked to evolve consensus by Friday so that the Bill could be tabled and voted upon in Parliament before March 22, when the Budget Session goes into month-long recess. The Ordinance will lapse on April 4.
Another senior minister, however, said the EGoM would give its report by tomorrow night and the Bill is expected to be taken up by the Cabinet again on Thursday.
The Cabinet meeting this morning, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, saw some ministers like the Law Minister insisting on adequate safeguards with regard to provisions on stalking to check against false complaints, sources said.
There were also differing views on the provisions regarding voyerism, which is proposed to be made criminal offence, and lowering of age of consensual sex to 16 years from the current 18 years.
Women and Child Development Minister Krishna Tirath is strongly opposed to lowering the age of consent.
The government, which is keen to bring the law expeditiously in the backdrop of uproar over Delhi gangrape, had convened the special meeting of the Cabinet to clear the bill.
