He also said it was “equally shocking” that there was total apathy of everyone who had a duty to perform.
“We have submitted the report in 29 days. When I offered to do the work within 30 days, I did not realise the magnitude of the work. If we can complete the report within 30 days, then why can't the government with all its might enact laws within 30 days,” Justice Verma said, after submitting his voluminous report to the Home Ministry.
Justice Verma, the head of the three-member panel that includes former Justice Leila Seth and former Solicitor General gopal Subramanium, was approached by the Central government for the task on December 23.
He said the report may be known after him but it is the outcome of suggestions from people within India and outside the country.
“We received 80,000 suggestions,” he said adding all of them were read and considered before finalising the report.
On how he decided on a time frame for finalising the report, Justice Verma said when a senior Cabinet Minister approached him on behalf of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, he asked him when is the next session of Parliament.
“The Minister told me that the (Budget) session will start on February 21. There were two months. So I decided lets do it in 30 days. If we are able to do it in half the time available, then the government with its might and resources should also act fast,” he said.
He complimented the youth for the mature response.
“Youth has taught us what we, the older generation, were not aware of. I was struck by the peaceful manner in which the protests were carried out...the youth rose to the occasion,” he said.
Justice Verma castigated Home Secretary R. K. Singh for his praise of Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar in the aftermath of the Delhi gang rape incident, saying he was shocked to hear this when an apology was expected.
“The Commissioner of Police was given a pat on his back by no less than a person holding the post of Home Secretary. I was shocked to see that,” Justice Verma said.
He said the least he would have done was to seek an apology for the failure of the duty to protect citizens and “instead of that (what did we see)“.
Singh had praised Delhi Police during a press interaction days after the December 16 incident when the force arrested six men allegedly involved in the crime.
The committee was set in the wake of the gruesome gang-rape of a trainee physiotherapist in Delhi on Dec 16.
“This is just the beginning of the change,” he said, adding that he hopes the report will be taken up “seriously” in the coming parliament session.
“Many recommendations made in the past for women have not been implemented. We have perfect laws but they remain ineffective,” he added.
He also said that the first step is to stop eve-teasing or sexual harassment and stalking from society.
“It is a serious matter... these practices are tolerated by the society. We need to first deal with the first step as it graduates to sexual assault,” he told reporters.
He said he was “struck by the peaceful manner” in which the youth rose to protest the brutal attack.
“It was a spontaneous show of the youth. It was a humbling experience... the youth taught us, the older generation. This is the real hope and the brightest aspect of this entire exercise,” said justice Verma.
