Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said that the government will be prompt in pursuing the recommendations of J S Verma Committee to amend the law to deal effectively with cases of sexual assault against women.

The committee was set up in the wake of the brutal gangrape and assault of a 23-year-old in Delhi on December 16th last.

The victim died in a Singapore hospital on December 29th.

In a letter to Justice Verma who is a former Chief Justice of India, Dr.Singh thanked him and other two members of the Committee–Justice (retd) Leila Seth and former Solicitor General Gopal Subramanian–for completing within a short period of 30 days the work of the panel.

The Verma Committee has recommended enhancing punishment to upto 20 years imprisonment for rape and murder and life term for gang rape but refrained from suggesting death penalty to the guilty.

In its 630-page report submitted to the government on January 23rd, the Committee suggested various amendments to the criminal laws to provide for higher punishment to rapists, including those belonging to police and public servants.

New offences have been created and stiffer punishment has been suggested for those committing such offence that left the victim in a vegetative state. The new offences include disrobing a woman, voyeurism, stalking and trafficking.

The present statute provides for punishment of imprisonment ranging from seven years to life for rapists.