Union Cabinet approves Ordinance for death penalty for rape of girls under 12 years

The Union Cabinet on Saturday approved promulgation of an Ordinance to provide death penalty for rapists of girls below 12 years, according to a senior government official. The Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance provides for stringent punishment of a jail term of minimum 20 years or life imprisonment or death for rape of a girl under 12 years. In the case of a gang rape of a girl below 12 years, there will be a punishment of life in jail or a death sentence. For the crime of a rape of a girl under 16 years, minimum punishment has been increased from 10 years to 20 years, which is expandable to imprisonment for rest of life. Minimum punishment in case of rape of women has also been increased from rigorous imprisonment of 7 years to 10 years, extendable to life imprisonment. The Ordinance also provides for speedy investigation and trial which needs to be compulsorily completed within two months. There will also be no provision for anticipatory bail for a person accused of rape or gang rape of a girl under 16 years. Source: The Hindu