A Commission of Inquiry headed bya former Delhi High court judge to go into the gang-rapeincident was set up today by the Centre which also ordered aprobe into allegations of police interference in recording thevictim's statement that has snowballed into a major row.
A meeting of the Union Cabinet presided by Prime MinisterManmohan Singh took the decision to set up the one-personCommission headed by Justice(retd) Usha Mehra to identifylapses and fix responsibility in the gang-rape of 23-year-oldgirl in a moving bus in South Delhi on night of December 16.
The Commission, which will also suggest measures to makeDelhi and NCR safer for women, will submit within three monthsits report to be tabled in Parliament along with action takenby the government.
Announcing the decision to set up the Commission at anews conference after the meeting, Finance Minister PChidambaram said it was a "matter of shame" that the incidenthappened in Delhi and the Central government has specialresponsibility.
At the meeting, several ministers voiced their anguish atthe horrific crime and said the government should walk theextra mile to ensure recovery of the victim and instil a senseof safety among women.
Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde briefed the meeting onthe incident and steps being taken to defuse the situation.
On allegations by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshitthat Delhi Police officers had interfered in the process ofrecording of statement of the rape victim, Chidambaram saidthe Home Minister told the Cabinet that an internal probe by asenior officer has been ordered into it.
As the row with the Delhi government escalated, DelhiPolice Commissioner Neeraj Kumar wrote to the Home Ministryrebutting charges that police had interfered when a magistratewas recording the statement of the victim.
Stepping up its pressure on the Police Commissioner,Delhi Chief Secretary P K Tripathi said after the stateCabinet meeting that Kumar has no authority to comment onfunctioning of the SDM who complained of police interferencewhile recording the statement.
The condition of the rape victim deteriorated last nightas her pulse rate reduced considerably but it recovered soon.
She, however, continues to be critical but stable,doctors attending on her at Safdarjung hospital said. Shecontinues to be on ventilator support in the Intensive CareUnit (ICU).