‘Death penalty not an answer to child abuse’

The Centre told the Supreme Court on Thursday that the death penalty is not the answer for every child sex abuse case and that graded penalties for graded offences have been provided under the POCSO Act, 2012.

“Death penalty is not an answer to every problem. There are graded penalties for graded offences under POCSO,” Additional Solicitor General PS Narasimha told a bench of CJI Dipak Misra, justice AM Khanwilkar and justice DY Chandrachud, which is hearing a case involving sexual assault on an eight-month-old infant who is now undergoing treatment at AIIMS, Delhi.

The Centre spelt its position on the issue as the petitioner-lawyer sought death for the accused. “We can’t suggest death penalty, as you are suggesting,” CJI Misra said and sought to know what penalty under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) provided for. Describing this instant case as “brutal”, the court sought data on the number of cases pending under POCSO, status of their trial, and time taken to complete them.

This came after the petitioner wanted fast-tracking of trials in POCSO cases as he referred to a National Crime Records Bureau report that said these cases took three years to decide.

BABY TAKEN TO AIIMS FOR BETTER CARE: GOVT

An eight-month-old baby, who was allegedly raped by her 28-year-old relative, has been shifted to AIIMS for better medical care, the Centre informed the SC on Thursday. The Delhi Legal Services Authority, through its member secretary Sanjeev Jain, has also filed its status report that ₹75,000 interim compensation has been given to the baby’s parents.

NCP leader AK Saseendran, who was recently acquitted by a court of sexual harassment charges over which he was forced to quit the LDF cabinet last year, was on Thursday sworn in as minister.

In a brief ceremony at the Raj Bhavan, Kerala governor P Sathasivam administered the oath of office and secrecy to Saseendran.

The chief minister and his cabinet colleagues were present at the function, which was boycotted by the Opposition Congress-led UDF. Saseendran had resigned as transport minister in March last year after a Malayalam TV channel released an audio clipping of his purported conversation with a woman.

A case was registered against Saseendran after the woman filed a complaint, in which she stated that he had misbehaved with her when she met him for an interview at his office. He was acquitted last week. PTI

NEW DELHI: THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: