The anti-rape bill Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2013 which provides for stringent punishment for crimes against women, including rape, was cleared by the union Cabinet on Thursday. It lowers the age of consent for sex from 18 to 16 besides making rape a gender sensitive crime where the perpetrator is male and the victim female.

Activists say that one cannot criminalise any action between a girl and a boy who are between 16 and 18. Representation pic