An Indian judges' committee Wednesday submitted a report on how to amend criminal codes to deliver harsher punishment of rapists, after the horrifying gang rape which took place last month in the Indian capital.

The committee headed by former chief justice J.S. Verma, set up to suggest ways to make rape laws stronger in the country, submitted its report and hoped it would be taken up seriously in the coming parliament session.

"This is just the beginning of the change," said justice Verma, adding that the first step is to stop sexual harassment against women.

The Dec. 16 gang rape shook India after a 23-year-old woman was brutally killed by six thugs on a moving bus in south Delhi.

Many have called for death punishment for the rapists as Indian law does not give capital punishment to rapists and a majority of rape cases remain unsolved in courts.