Jagan Govt proposes capital punishment for rape convicts in AP

The AP Government has been bringing two new laws, proposing capital punishment for the convicts in the rape cases, within 21 days.

The AP Criminal Law Amendment Bill 2019 and AP Special Court for specified offences against women and children Bill 2019 to be introduced in the Assembly today (on Thursday) to give the death penalty to the criminals indulged in rape cases.

For strengthening the provisions relating to crimes against women and children, the Government is amending the two Acts, including, Indian Penal

Code, 1860 and The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 and introducing a new act for setting up Exclusive Special Courts for specified offences against Women and Children, informed Home Minister M Sucharitha, with The Hans India at Secretariat after attending a cabinet meeting on Wednesday. She announced that they treat this new law as AP Disha Act, 2019.

The Govemment of Andhra Pradesh has prescribed death penalty as a punishment in cases of heinous offences of rape and gang rape.

The total judgement will be completed in 21 working days. It would Section 173 and Section 300 of Code of Criminal Procedure to ensure that in relation to the heinous offences of rape. Further, it mandated that, where there is adequate conclusive evidence, investigation shall be completed within seven working days and trial shall be completed in fourteen working days. Total Judgemerk time has been reduced to 21 working days from the existing allowed time period of 4 months.

To ensure speedy trial Government is establishing exclusive special courts in each district for exclusively dealing with cases of offences against women and children including rape, gang rape, acid attacks, staking. Voyeurism, sexual harassment and cases under POCSO Act.

Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy government also is going to introduce Section 354 E in Indian Penal Code for dealing with cases of

harassment of women through Social Media. Under Section 354 E, in cases of harassment of women through mail, social media, digital mode or any other form the guilty shall be punishable with imprisonment for a

term which may extend to two years on first conviction. The imprisonment may extend to four years on second and subsequent conviction, in same kind of offences.

The government is contemplating to further introduce Section 354 F in Indian Penal Code for stringent dealing of cases of sexual assault of children. In cases of molestation assault of children under existing POCSO Act. Punishment ranges from a minimum of 3 years to a maximum of 5 years under IPC Section 354 F is going to be inserted and punishment under molestation or sexual assault is increased to 5 years minimum and 7 years maximum.