Cabinet-approves-law-to-make-rape-gender-neutral
New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved a
proposal making rape a gender-neutral offence, under which the word 'rape'
would be replaced by the phrase 'sexual assault'.
Another
proposal to make carrying out of acid attacks a separate offence punishable by
a maximum of 10 years has also been approved. Both the proposals were approved
by the Cabinet at a meeting in New Delhi on Thursday evening.
The
amendment would expand the definition so that cases of sexual assault where the
victims are male would also fall under the same law along with cases where the
victims were women.
At
present, the offence is defined under section 375 of the Indian Penal Code as
per which a man is said to commit 'rape' in case he has sexual intercourse with
a woman against her will.
When
asked, Women and Child Development (WCD) Minister Krishna Tirath said the
Cabinet had given a go-ahead to the draft proposal.
She
said the Cabinet had also given a go-ahead to another proposal of her ministry
as per which carrying out an acid attack against any person should be brought
under a separate act punishable with a maximum ten years of imprisonment.
Krishna
further said it had also been decided by the cabinet that certain sections of
CrPC or IPC, which define minors as below the age of 16, would be amended and a
uniform age bar of below 18 years, would be set as the legal age for minors.
Source: http://ibnlive.in.com/news on 19th July, 2012
Regards
Prakash Verma
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