NEW DELHI: Amid demands for a separate anti-lynching law, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the Centre has written to states and Union Territories seeking their views on changing the laws in the country to curb such incidents.
Shah told the Rajya Sabha that the government has set up a committee to suggest necessary amendments in the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) to tackle such crimes.
Responding to queries on lynching by Congress leaders Anand Sharma and Syed Nasir Hussain, he said a panel committee was set up under the aegis of Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD). The Centre has sought suggestions from all chief ministers, governors and Lieutenant Governors on making changes to IPC and CrPC after consulting with experienced investigating officers and public prosecutors, he said. “Under the BPRD, a committee has been set up to make changes in the IPC and CrPC. We will start working on amendments after receiving recommendations from the committee.”
When a CPI-M member sought to know ideological reasons for the rise in mob lynching, Deputy Chairman Venkaiah Naidu said, “Should some community be totally excluded from operation of this act?”
In response to a written question on lynching, Junior Home Minister Nityanand Rai said there is “no separate” definition for such incidents under IPC.
“Lynching incidents can be dealt with under Section 300 and 302 of IPC. Section 302 provides that whoever commits murder shall be punished with death or imprisonment for life and shall also be liable to fine. Offence of murder is a cognisable, non- bailable and non-compoundable offence,”he said.