The Union government is planning to amend the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The special legislation would include the death penalty as a punishment for raping children under 12, the government told the Supreme Court on Friday.
Additional solicitor general PS Narasimha assurance to a bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra comes at a time of countrywide outrage over the brutal rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua earlier this year.
A letter from the deputy secretary of the Union ministry of women and child development was also presented in front of the bench which stated that an amendment to the law was under active consideration. āThe ministry proposes to amend the POCSO Act-2012 to introduce the death penalty for abusers in cases of aggravated sexual assault against childrenā.
Advocate Alakh Alok Srivastava had filled a PIL last month which sought the death penalty for those found guilty of sexually assaulting children under 12, drew the courtās attention to the alleged rape of an eight-month-old girl by her cousin at northwest Delhi in January.
The petition desired Rs 10 lakh in compensation for the victim, besides framing of guidelines that would ensure the completion of investigation and trial of POCSO cases within six months of the FIRās registration.
Earlier this month, the Union minister for women and child development Maneka Gandhi had instructed officials to work on a proposal aimed at amending the POCSO Act.
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