No mercy for children's rapists: President Kovind

Sirohi: As the entire nation is outraged at multiple incidents of rape and heinous crime against women, President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday said that there should be no provision of mercy pleas for rapists of children.

In his address at an event here, Kovind said: "Rape convicts under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act should not be allowed mercy petition." Calling women's safety a "serious issue", he said: "Parliament should review mercy petitions."

In fact, the President called for an amendment to the Constitution with regards to mercy petitions. "I recommended that there should be an amendment to the Constitution with regards to mercy petition. In my opinion, people convicted under the POCSO Act should not be allowed to come under the ambit of mercy petition."

An emotional Kovind went on to add: "There should be no mercy for rapists. This kind of incidents shocked the whole nation." However, he added: "I am sure you share my sentiments but the final decision on this constitutional amendment lies with Parliament."

Parliament amended the POCSO Act in August this year to include the death penalty in cases of gruesome penetrative sexual assault by any accused who happens to be in a position of authority.

The President was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of National Convention on Social Change from Women Empowerment at the Shantivan complex in Brahma Kumari Ashram, Abu Road.