Prevention of Torture Bill to meet UNCAT standards: Govt.

New Delhi, Aug. 11 (ANI): The Government on Wednesday said that the Prevention of Torture Bill will meet United Nations Convention against Torture (UNCAT) Standards.

Minister of State for Home Affairs Mullappally Ramachandran in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday said: "India is a signatory to the United Nations Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment. After a lot of deliberations, it has been decided to bring a piece of 'stand alone' legislation for enabling the ratification of the Convention."

"Accordingly, the Prevention of Torture Bill, 2010 has been introduced in the Lok Sabha on 26.4.2010. The Bill has also been passed by the Lok Sabha on 6.5.2010. The Bill, inter alia, contains provisions relating to torture, punishment for torture, cognizance of offences and previous sanction necessary for prosecution," he added.

"There is no proposal to amend the section 197 of Criminal Procedure Code (Cr. P.C.)," he further added. (ANI)