Union Law minister Ashwani Kumartoday said that the law as it currently stands is not infavour of disclosing the identity of the rape victim.
"The law today supports the view that the identity of therape victim should not be disclosed and there are good reasonsfor that.. Certain other views have been expressed. Maybethere is a point in what has been said. But the law as itcurrently stands is not in favour of disclosing the rapevictim's identity," he told reporters on the sidelines of afunction.
He was replying to a query on minister of state for HRDShashi Tharoor's view that the Delhi rape victim's name shouldbe revealed.
On imposing capital punishment for rapists, he saidstrong views have been expressed in informed circles both forand against it.
He said Justice J S Verma committee has been constitutedto recommend changes in the laws, if necessary. The Uniongovernment was awaiting the recommendations, which is expectedto be given by the end of this month or so.
"After these recommendations are given, the cabinet willdeliberate and discuss these recommendations and take specificaction as may be considered appropriate after a broadpolitical consensus," Kumar said.
He said there is provision in existing law for lifeimprisonment for rape and capital punishment in the rarest ofrare cases, for example if rape is followed by murder. "Butwhat would constitute the rarest of rare cases will need to beleft to the judiciary to be determined," he said.
The real challenge before law enforcers, courts and lawmakers is how to make implementation and enforcement of lawsmore effective. There are already very stringent provisions todeal with offenders of various crimes. But the final view willbe taken after we receive the recommendations and deliberatedafresh in the light of the recent incident.