New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Saturday approved an ordinance, or emergency executive order, to introduce capital punishment for those convicted of raping children below the age of 12. The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on his return from a five-day foreign tour.
The ordinance will now be sent to the President for his approval.
Here what the ordinance says:
1. 2 Months Deadline For Probe
2. 2 Months For Trial
3. New Fast Track Courts & Prosecutors
4. Special Forensic Kits & Labs Setup
5. NCRB To Maintain Database For Offenders
6. No Bail For Rapes Below 16
7. Minimum Punishment 10 Years
The decision came a day after the Ministry of Women and Child Development told the Supreme Court that it had proposed to amend the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act by introducing the death penalty to the convicts of child rapes.
The POCSO Act was formulated to effectively address sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children.
Union minister for women and child development Maneka Gandhi had floated the idea of changing the law following nationwide outrage over gangrape and murder of an eight-year-old girl at Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to existing provisions, the accused has to serve a minimum jail term of seven years.
Similar moves, however, were shot down in the past. In January, the Modi government in this regard had told the apex court that the death penalty was not the answer to everything.
