New Delhi: Parliament Monday passed a Bill that enhances the minimum punishment for rape of women from seven to 10 years and provides for life imprisonment or death penalty to rape/gang rape of girls below 12 years of age.
The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2018, earlier passed by the Lok Sabha, was Monday unanimously passed in the Rajya Sabha by voice vote. The Bill will replace the Ordinance the government had brought in April. Replying to the discussion in the upper House, Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said that the provisions made in the Bill were relevant and appealed to the members to pass the Bill.
Rijiju pointed out that the Bill addresses several lacunae at the investigation and trial stages in rape cases. The investigation in rape cases has to be completed now in 60 days instead of the earlier 90 days and the trial will also be time bound and will take place in-camera, he said. The minister said that at no stage any doubts should be raised about the character of the rape victim. “As per the new Bill, the court where rape cases are being taken up should be presided over by a woman judge as far as possible. Also, the statement in the rape cases should also be recorded by a woman police officer,” he said.
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