By Express News Service
NEW DELHI: The law to make provision of death penalty to those raping children below 12 years of age has come into effect after President Ram Nath Kovind promulgated the ordinance which was approved by the Union cabinet on Saturday.
The ordinance has paved way for providing stringent punishment to those convicted of raping children by making changes in Criminal Laws pertaining to sexual assault on children below 12 and 16 years.
With the notification, the Indian Penal Code, the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 stand amended. The notification states that since Parliament is not in session and President is satisfied that circumstances exist which render it necessary for him to take immediate action.
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The Ordinance has been named as the Criminal Law Short title and (Amendment) Ordinance, 2018.
The Gazette notification read, “Whereas Parliament is not in session and the President is satisfied that the circumstances exist which render it necessary for him to take immediate action. Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by clause (1) of article 123 of the Constitution, the President is pleased to promulgate the following ordinance.”
As per the amended law, there is now a provision of death sentence for rapists of girl under12 years, while the minimum punishment in case of women has been increased from rigorous imprisonment of 7 years to 10 years, extended to life imprisonment.
The measure also provides for speedy investigation and trial. The time limit for investigation of all cases of rape has been prescribed, which has to be mandatorily completed within two months, the new law says.
