The bill seeks to provide enhanced punishment for crimes such as rape and gang rape, prescribing punishment extending to death sentence for offenders for inflicting any injury which causes death of the victim or causes them to be in a persistent vegetative state
The anti-rape bill, providing for enhanced punishment for rape, making stalking and voyeurism criminal offences and fixing age of consent for sex at 18, got parliamentary approval yesterday day with the Rajya Sabha passing the bill with voice vote.
The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2013 was passed by the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. The widely-debated bill seeks to provide enhanced punishment for crimes such as rape and gang-rape, prescribing punishment extending to death sentence for offenders for inflicting any injury which causes death of the victim or causes them to be in a persistent vegetative state.
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In fond memory: While introducing the bill, Home Minister Shinde remembered the Delhi gang-rape victim. He said the brave heart fought for her dignity, and that the MPs can at least honour her by passing this bill soon. File Pic
Replying to the debate on the bill in the upper house, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said the gang-rape and subsequent death of a 23-year-old in Delhi shook the conscience of the whole nation, and there was a demand for a stronger law against rape.
He said changes in the existing laws were necessary for dignity of women and to increase their sense of security.Describing the bill as tough and rigid, Shinde said the legislation will have its effect in the coming years.
Stressing that the bill was not against men, he said men also wanted the bill to be passed for the protection of their mothers and sisters.
The minister said the bill provides for action against police officials not registering complaint of victims, while sections dealing with the position of dominance imply political dominance too.
He noted that the ordinance promulgated last month kept the age of consent at 18 and this was retained in the bill. The age of consent was 16 under the Indian Penal Code till it was changed in the ordinance.
While introducing the bill, Shinde remembered the Delhi gang-rape victim. “The brave heart fought for her dignity, we can at least honour her by passing this bill soon,” he said.
Debating the bill, members across the political spectrum expressed concern over security of women. The debate in Rajya Sabha was shorter compared to the Lok Sabha but saw participation of several women members.
Women speak
Communist Party of India-Marxist’s TN Seema suggested that age of consent for sex should be kept at 16. “Age of consent should be 16 years... a safeguard can be put that the boy should not be more than five years older than the girl,” she said.
She also demanded that rape of a Dalit or tribal woman by a non-Dalit or non-tribal man should be considered as an aggravated crime.
DMK’s Vasanthi Stanley suggested inclusion of transgenders in the bill, while Rashtriya Janata Dal member Ram Kripal Yadav demanded removing provisions against stalking.u00a0Maya Singh of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said anyone above 16 years of age should be punished if found guilty in a rape case.
Prabha Thakur of Congress said that more women will be able to file cases if they see justice being done. “If punishment is given, the criminals would also feel afraid,” she said. “Presently women do not feel free to register cases of rape or molestation because they fear that they will be maligned and would not get justice,” she said.
Bill in brief
>> The bill incorporates suggestions of the Justice JS Verma Committee formed to make the anti-rape laws stronger
>>u00a0It seeks to punish repeat offenders of rape with imprisonment of life (which will be the remainder of the person's natural life), or with death
>>u00a0It provides for rigorous imprisonment for a minimum of 20 years extendable to life imprisonment to those convicted for the offenceu00a0of gang rape
>>u00a0It also defines and prescribes punishment for stalking, voyeurism and sexual harassment
>>u00a0The anti-rape bill will replace the ordinance promulgated last month
>>The legislation had to be passed by parliament before April 4, when it would have lapsed
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