New Delhi: Indian President Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday approved the Ordinance on sexual assault which was given consent by the Union Cabinet two days ago. The changed law will come into force with immediate effect.
The changed law has provision of death penalty for cases of rape which lead to the victim’s death or push her into a persistent vegetative state. The Ordinance sought to treat such case as a crime belonging to the “rarest-of-rare” category for which courts can award death punishment if they so decide.
For such cases, the ordinance proposes a minimum sentence of 20 years which can be extended to imprisonment until the natural life of the convict, or death.
The changed law, which came into force on Sunday after being assented by the President, will now treat voyeurism, stalking, disrobing of women and acid attacks as specific offences under the Indian Penal Code.
The change will raise ‘eve-teasing’ from being considered a minor offence to a serious crime attracting enhanced punishment.
The government will bring these provisions as Bills during the Budget Session, which is due to begin on February 21.
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