AP Assembly passes Disha Bill

Amaravati: In a historic move, the Andhra Pradesh Assembly on Friday passed "AP Disha Bill 2019" to protect women and children in sexual offences cases by providing speedy investigation and justice to victims.

Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy said the Nirbhaya case and the recent Disha case of Hyderabad have compelled the need for "Disha Act" which has many salient features.

Also known as the Andhra Pradesh Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2019, the Bill provides for expediting the verdict in trials on rape and gangrape cases and awarding death penalty within 21 days.

The development comes in the wake of the horrific incident in Telangana where a woman veterinarian was gang-raped and killed by four people before they burnt her body on November 27. Her charred body was recovered a day later.

According to a statement, the state government has prescribed exclusive death penalty for rapes where adequate conclusive evidence is present. The provision will be provided by amending Section 376 of Indian Penal Code, 1860.

The imprisonment will be for a term which may extend to two years on first conviction and with imprisonment for a term which may extend to four years on second and subsequent conviction.

To ensure a speedy trial, the government is establishing Exclusive Special Courts in each district.

These courts will exclusively deal with cases of offences against women and children including rape, gangrape, acid attacks, stalking, voyeurism, social media harassment of women, sexual harassment and all cases under POCSO Act.

Period for disposal of appeal cases has been reduced to 3 months.

The state government will constitute a Special Police team at District level to be called District Special Police Team to be headed by DSP for investigation of offences related to Women & Children.

The government will establish, operate and maintain a register in electronic form, to be called the 'Women & Children Offenders Registry'.