Centre approves death penalty for rapists of kids below 12

The proposal demanded death penalty to those raping a child of below 12 years of rape. As per POCSO, the punishment for the 'aggravated assault' is life imprisonment and the minimum is seven years in jail. After 2012, in view of Nirbhaya gangrape case, the laws were amended and a provision was introduced of the death penalty when the victim either dies or is left in a "vegetative state".

New Delhi: After wrapping up the five-day visit to Sweden and the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has summoned an urgent meeting of Union Cabinet at 11 am on Saturday. The Union Cabinet on Saturday approved the amendment of promulgation of the criminal law. The Cabinet also approved death penalty for an accused of raping a child below than 12 years of age. Centre has cleared criminal law amendment ordinance which also includes POCSO Act as part of that amendment. 

The Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill, 2018, the Commercial Courts, Commercial Division and Commercial Appellate Division of High Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2018 and Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2018 were also taken up and discussed by the Union Cabinet today. Home Minister Rajnath Singh today at an event had said, "Opposition levels allegations that some Nirav & Choksi fled abroad. We will present a fugitive economic offenders bill before Parliament. Earlier offenders used to flee abroad&their properties weren't seized. Now their properties will be seized under the bill."