Bill on punishment for torture introduced in Lok Sabha

NEW DELHI - A bill proposing punishment for torture inflicted by public servants or torture inflicted by someone with the consent of public servants was introduced in the Lok Sabha Monday.

Introducing the Prevention of Torture Bill, 2010, Home Minister P. Chidambaram said: “The proposed legislation, inter alia, defines the expression ‘torture’, provides for punishment to those involved in the incidents of torture and specifies the time limit for taking cognizance of the offence.”

He said an amendment of the existing laws such as Indian Penal Code (IPC) or bringing in a new legislation was necessary for India to ratify the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment adopted by the United Nations General Assembly Dec 9, 1975.

“Ratification of the Convention requires enabling legislation to reflect the definition and punishment for ‘torture’. Although some provisions relating to the matter are existing in the IPC, yet they neither define ‘torture’ as clearly as in Article I of the Convention nor make it a criminal offence as called for by Article 4 of the Convention,” the home minister said.

Chidambaram said the matter was examined “at length in consultation with the Law Commission of India and the Attorney General of India”.

“After considerable deliberations on the issue, it was decided to bring in a standalone legislation so that the Convention can be ratified,” the minister said.