Centre begins process to ensure maximum punishment of death penalty in child rape cases. Full details here

In a big step in the fight to keep India's children safe, the central government, in a letter submitted to the Supreme Court, has stated that it has started the process to amend the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act) Act to ensure maximum punishment of death penalty in child rape cases between the age of 0-12 years.

The Centre submitted its report while responding to a PIL in the matter. Further hearing is scheduled for April 27.

The development comes in the midst of massive outrage across the nation over the horrific rape incidents in Kathua, Unnao and Surat. Just a few days earlier, top sources had told Republic TV that the government was mulling capital punishment for rapists of minors.

On April 13, Union Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi had demanded death penalty for the Kathua rapists. She had also said that her ministry intended to bring an amendment in the POCSO act. 

"I have been deeply disturbed by the rape case in Kathua and all the recent rape cases that have happened in recent past. I and the ministry intend to bring an amendment in the POCSO act  asking for the death penalty for rape on children below 12 years," said Maneka Gandhi

A number of chief ministers have also backed making the death penalty mandatory for rapists of minors, including the CMs of Jammu and Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh, where the Kathua and Unnao incidents had taken place.

As per sources, UP CM Yogi Adityanath, in front of whose residence the Unnao rape victim had attempted self-immolation claiming BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar and his associates had raped her, held a meeting with top officials of the state, including the police and from the women and child development department, where it was decided to write a letter to the central government to strengthen the law in this regard.

Jammu and Kashmir CM Mehbooba Mufti had also tweeted that her government would bring about such a law after details of the heinous Kathua rape and murder which were revealed in the chargesheet filed by the J&K Police crime branch had shocked and outraged the nation.

"I want to assure the entire nation that I stand committed not just to ensure justice for the victim but also seek exemplary punishment for those responsible for a crime whose brutal savagery has shamed humanity."

"We will never ever let another child suffer in this way. We will bring a new law that will make the death penalty mandatory for those who rape minors, so that the 8-year-old victim's case becomes the last", Mufti had tweeted. (The victim's name has been removed from the tweet)

Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had joined Republic TV's #DeathForRapists of children campaign, tweeting his support and stating that his government had been the first to pass such a bill.

The Prime Minister had assured that the government would go to any lengths to fulfill its responsibility and deliver justice to the Kathua and Unnao rape accused. Speaking in London, PM Modi warned against politicising rape.

President Ram Nath Kovind also delivered a strong message over the horrific incidents, saying:

"Any society's biggest success and primary responsibility is to ensure the safety and security of its children."

"In the country, in some or the other corner, our children are today becoming victims of heinous crimes. An innocent girl has been the victim of a crime that can't even be imagined."