Draft crimes Bill for Central 'authority'

NEW DELHI: A citizens group, comprising retired judges, serving and retired policemen and senior advocates, has released a draft Prevention of Genocide and Mass Crimes Bill, 2004, which aims to codify mass crimes and legislate the punishment for them.
The bill proposes a Central law and defines at length terms like genocide, crimes against humanity, forced eviction, torture and disappearance.
It moots a national authority for preventing such crimes, which would consist of the Prime Minister, the leader of the opposition, chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission, two serving officers of the rank of director-general of police who would be appointed by the first three members.
The proposed authority would, on the basis of information received, take cognisance of crimes that fall under this category. It would appoint the CBI as its investigating agency.
The authority, in consultation with the concerned high court where internal disturbance has taken place, or in consulation with the Chief Justice of India, would constitute a special court.
The authority would also devise and suggest special schemes for the witness protection and for prevention of intimidation of witnesses by whatever means to ensure free and fair trial for the crime.
It would also have the power to devise and frame special schemes for the prevention of violence by constituting committees of members of different communities.
The draft law also envisages that any person found guilty of genocide would be punished with a minimum imprisonment of 10 years and maximum of life imprisonment.
The bill will now be circulated among people''s groups and political parties for further discussion. The bill was deliberated upon and drafted, among others, by Justices P B Sawant, Hosbet Suresh, advocates K G Kannabiran, Indira Jaising and Nitya Ramakrishnan.