Getting a green signal in Lok Sabha, now the anti-rape bill is to move in Rajya Sabha today to be passed.
After much dramatic clamor, the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill-2013 was amended over the backdrop of the outrage on Delhi gang-rape case of the 23-year-old victim, brutally gang-raped by six persons in a moving bus last year.
“I wish to state that we are enacting the strict law to act as a deterrent,” Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde stated in a statement.
The repeated offence of stalking and voyeurism has made Non-Bailable, while the bill has proposed a minimum 20 years punishment of imprisonment which may be turn to natural life term or even death sentence for rapists.
But after a long hours debate, the age of consensual sex has been maintained at 18 years, amid demand of Opposition.
For the first time, acid attack is defined as a crime in the Bill, awarding a minimum 10-year jail term for offender.
However, debate is also sought to make to amend the Indian Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure, the Indian Evidence Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, source said.
The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill sought to replace an Ordinance was promulgated by President on February 3, which will expire on April 4. Now all eyes are on Rajya Sabha where the bill to be tabled and after approval, it will become the law.
