New Delhi: The cabinet approved amendments to the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, on Friday, December 28. The approval was announced by Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad during a press conference in the national capital.
The amendments in the act will introduce more severe punishments for sexual crimes committed against children.
Maneka Gandhi, Women and Child Development Minister, had proposed the amendments in the aftermath of the horrific Kathua gangrape and murder case which had sparked countrywide outrage. Maneka Gandhi said that her ministry sought a death penalty for rape of children under twelve years of age.
In addition to death penalty, a minimum jail term of twenty years as punishment for an accused of raping a child under twelve years of age has also been introduced as part of the amendment.
The approval of amendment was announced by Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad during a press conference in the national capital on Friday.
The government has approved the death penalty in aggravated sexual offences under the POCSO Act, Prasad said.
