India makes child rape law punishable by death

The Dhaka Times Desk India makes child rape law punishable by death. The country's cabinet has approved the law, which provides for the death penalty for rape of children below 12 years of age.

India has also decided to set up fast track courts to dispose of rape cases quickly. The final decision in this regard was taken in the Cabinet meeting chaired by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday.

Union Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi proposed last week to bring this change in the law regarding the punishment of rape after the recent murder of a tribal girl in Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir. In the central committee meeting, there was a lot of discussion about what could be the ultimate punishment for child rape.

After a long discussion, the country's cabinet passed the ordinance making rape of children under 12 years punishable by death. This provision will be sent for President's assent.

According to the current 'Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse Act-2012', there is a maximum life sentence and a minimum of 7 years of imprisonment for sexual abuse of children under the age of 12 years.