GoM approves anti -sati law amendments

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A Group of Ministers (GoM) on Friday approved amendments to

Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act, 1987 that allows police to

press charges against communities, where sati takes place and

prohibits any legal action against the victim.

 

The GoM recommendations will now be placed before the Cabinet for

its consideration. If the Cabinet puts a stamp of approval, the

amendment bill may be introduced in the monsoon session of

Parliament, a government official said.

 

The officials believe that the proposed changes will help in

checking incidents of sati, where a woman burns herself in the

funeral pyre of her husband. A couple of sati cases have been

reported from different parts of the country in the last few years.

In September 2006, sati was performed Chahatarpur area of Madhya

Pradesh. Four sons of the deceased were arrested on the charge of

murder.

 

A Women and Child Development ministry official, said, now woman who

attempt to commit sati would be treated as a victim rather than an

offender, who tried to commit a crime.

 

Another amendment approved by the GoM headed by HRD minister Arjun

Singh provides for legal action against entire village responsible

for performing sati. This can put pressure on the family not to

perform the illegal act, an official said. The GoM also approved the

amendment that a fine should be imposed on entire community for

allowing sati.

 

The amendment bill also provides for panchayat functionaries

responsible for implementation of the Act to make it more

effective. " It would be mandatory on their part to report any

incident of sati to police or action can be taken against them, " an

official said.

 

The ministry has also proposed to enhance the punishment under the

Act for both glorification of sati from up to seven years to life

imprisonment. There is also recommendation to increase penalty for

other offences.

 

The present Act bars any relative of a woman, who has committed

sati, from inheriting the property of her late husband.

 

[Chetan Chauhan, Hindustan Times

New Delhi, July 13, 2007]

 

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