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Cabinet to discuss death penalty for rape of minors
What has happened?
Law Ministry sources say that they have approved a proposal received from the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD) to amend the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, and a final decision on whether to bring it in the form of an Ordinance will be taken at the Cabinet meeting.
Draft Cabinet note
- According to a senior Ministry official, the draft Cabinet note proposes an amendment to Section 6 of the POCSO Act, which lays down a punishment of 10 years to life imprisonment for aggravated penetrative sexual assault against children.
- On Friday, the Centre also informed the Supreme Court that it is actively considering amending the penal law to introduce death penalty to those convicted of sexually abusing children up to 12 years of age.
