Union Cabinet approves ordinance for death penalty to child rapists
New Delhi, Apr 21 (IBNS) : The Union Cabinet has approved an ordinance for death penalty to those convicted of raping minors below 12 years of age, media reports said.
The significant move came amid the nationwide outrage over the series of incidents of sexual assault of minor girls, including the one in Kathua.
Through this ordinance, the government amends the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act) 2012, allowing courts to award death penalty to those convicted for raping children below 12 years.
The ordinance would be now sent to the President for his approval
Presently under the POCSO Act, the maximum punishment for aggravated assault on minors is life in jail. The minimum sentence is seven years in jail.
Even while the Cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi met to discuss the issue, the rape and murder of an four-month-old infant in Indore sent fresh shockwaves across the country.
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