CABINET CLEARS ORDINANCE, MAKES ANTI-RAPE LAWS STRICTER

Rape that leads to death of the victim or leaving her in a vegetative state can now attract death penalty under an ordinance cleared by the Union Cabinet. The ordinance, based on the recommendations of the Justice J S Verma Committee and going beyond, proposes to replace the word rape with sexual assault to expand the definition of all types sexual crimes against women. It also proposes enhanced punishment for other crimes against women like stalking, voyeurism, acid attacks, indecent gestures like words and inappropriate touch and brings into its ambit marital rape. The minimum punishment will be 20 years in jail which can be extended to the natural life of the convict or death, adding discretion will be with the court. The ordinance entails changes in the criminal law by amending Indian Penal Code (IPC), Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and the Evidence Act. The ordinance suggests that only a woman police officer will take the statement of the victim of the sexual crime. Women under 18 years will not be confronted with the accused but provision of cross examination has been retained. The ordinance says that if a person facing acid attack kills the accused in the process of self-defence, then she will be protected under the right to self defence. The government will now recommend to President Pranab Mukherjee to promulgate the ordinance with immediate effect.