Centre to Amend POCSO Act To Ensure Death To Child Rapists

 The centre has submitted a letter to the Supreme Court, mentioning that it has started the process to amend POCSO Act.

Also: National Capital Up In Arms Over Asifa, Unnao Rape Cases

The report was submitted in response to a PIL by Advocate Alakh Alok Srivastava. The PIL sought a maximum sentence of death penalty for offenders involved in the rape and brutal murder of children between the age group of 0 to 12. A further hearing will be on April 27, reports Economic Times.

Also Read: Thousands Throng India Gate To Protest Kathua, Unnao Rape Cases

Maneka Gandhi, Union minister of Women and Children Development, had earlier asked her department to work on a proposal to amend the POCSO law, so as to bring in the provision of death penalty for the rape of a minor below the age of 12 years.

Minister of Women and Children Development was heard saying in a video, which was uploaded on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/timesnow/status/984656136048541696?s=21

"I have been deeply, deeply disturbed by the rape case in Kathua and all the recent rape cases that have happened on children. I and the (women and child development) ministry intend to bring an amendment to the POCSO Act asking for death penalty for rape of children below 12 years."

Currently, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana have a maximum punishment of death for a convicted rapist of a minor. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has also promised to bring in a similar law.

Also Read: Now Haryana Assembly Approves Death Penalty in Child Rape Cases

Bhawana is an intern with SheThePeople.Tv