JOIN USTen days after the gang-rape and brutal assault of a 23-year-old physiotherapy student in a moving bus in the capital, the Centre on Wednesday announced a commission of Inquiry to be conducted by retired Delhi High Court judge Usha Mehra.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Police said the victim has been shifted out of Safdarjung Hospital.
The Union cabinet set a three-month deadline for the panel, which will also suggest measures to improve the safety and security of women, particularly in Delhi and the National Capital Region.
Briefing mediapersons,
Finance Minister P Chidambaram said the commission’s report would be placed, as per law, in Parliament along with an action taken report by the government. Justice Mehra, he noted, has agreed to meet the deadline.
The terms of reference of the government order said: “The commission shall go into the various aspects of the shocking incident of rape and brutal assault of a young woman in Delhi on 16.12.2012; identify the lapses, if any, on the part of the police or any other authority or person that contributed to the occurrence; and fix responsibility for the lapses and/or negligence on the part of the police or any other authority or person. The commission shall suggest measures to improve the safety and security of women, particularly in Delhi and NCR.”
If it deems fit, the panel may submit an interim report to the government, the minister said.