Cabinet OKs death for child rapists
ORDINANCE ROUTE Also empowers agencies to seize assets of economic offenders who flee country to escape trial
The Union cabinet, at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Saturday approved the promulgation of a pair of vastly different but crucial ordinances. One will allow the courts to award death to people convicted of raping children below 12 years, and the other will empower law enforcement agencies to seize the assets of economic offenders who have fled India to escape trial.
The ordinances will take effect after President Ram Nath Kovind approves them. “The whole process will take a day or two,” said a government spokesperson.
The Criminal Law (Amendment) ordinance, 2018, comes in the backdrop of nationwide outrage over the brutal rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir and the alleged rape of a minor in Unnao in Uttar Pradesh by a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator. A slew of child rape and murder cases have been reported across India recently.
NEWDELHI:
Minimum punishment for rape increased from rigorous imprisonment of seven years to 10 years, extendable to life imprisonment
In case of rape of a girl under 16, minimum punishment increased from 10 years to 20 years, extendable to imprisonment for rest of life. Punishment for gang rape of a girl under 16 will be imprisonment for rest of life
Punishment for rape of a girl under 12 is minimum 20 years’ imprisonment or imprisonment
The maximum punishment for aggravated sexual assault on minors under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POSCO) Act , 2012 is life imprisonment. The law came into force in 2012 and deals with sexual offences against those below 18. The Indian Penal Code prescribes death penalty for gang rape.
To enforce the change, amendments for rest of life or with death. In case of gang rape of a girl below 12, punishment will be imprisonment for rest of life or death sentence
Investigations in all rape cases have to be completed within two months. Trials in all rape cases have to be completed in two months. Appeals in rape cases have to be disposed of within six months
National Crime Records Bureau will maintain a national database and profile of sex offenders
will be made in the criminal law and POSCO Act. “An insertion will be made in section 376 of IPC providing for death penalty for rape of a girl below 12 years and in case of gang rape of a girl below 16 years, death penalty for all the rapists,” said a senior government official who did not want to be named.