NEW DELHI – Indian government told the Supreme Court on Friday that theprocess to amend the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO)Act has been launched, and the special legislation would include the deathpenalty as a punishment for raping children under 12.
This assurance provided by additional solicitor general PS Narasimha to abench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra comes at a time ofcountrywide outrage over the brutal rape-cum-murder of an eight-year-oldgirl in Kathua earlier this year.
Narasimha also placed before the court a letter from the deputy secretaryof the Union ministry of women and child development, which stated that anamendment to the law was under active consideration. “The ministry proposesto amend the POCSO Act-2012 to introduce the death penalty for abusers incases of aggravated sexual assault against children,” it read.
The court then adjourned the case to April 27.
The bench was hearing a PIL filed by advocate Alakh Alok Srivastava lastmonth. The petition, which sought the death penalty for those found guiltyof sexually assaulting children under 12, drew the court’s attention to thealleged rape of an eight-month-old girl by her cousin at northwest Delhi inJanuary.
The petition sought Rs 10 lakh in compensation for the victim, besidesframing of guidelines that would ensure the completion of investigation andtrial of POCSO cases within six months of the FIR’s registration.
Last week, soon after details of the Kathua incident emerged, Unionminister for women and child development Maneka Gandhi had instructedofficials to work on a proposal aimed at amending the POCSO Act.