Just Earth News | @justearthnews | 21 Apr 2018, 04:58 pm Print
New Delhi: In a significant move, the Indian Cabinet has approved an ordinance for death penalty to those convicted of raping minors below 12 years of age.
The ordinance was passed amid the nationwide outrage over the series of incidents of fatal sexual assaults of minor girls.
Through this ordinance, the government amends the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act) 2012, allowing courts to award death penalty to those convicted for raping children below 12 years.
The ordinance would be now sent to the President for his approval
Presently under the POCSO Act, the maximum punishment for aggravated assault on minors is life in jail.
The minimum sentence is seven years in jail.
Death penalty in India
The instance of capital punishment is rare.
According to reports, in the last 10 years, only three such cases have been recorded.
Though the convicts in the Nirbhaya case was awarded death penalty, it is yet to be carried out.
Capital punishment is generally carried out through hanging.
Image: Wallpaper
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