English हिन्दी
Connect with us

India News

MP Assembly passes Bill for awarding death penalty for rape of girls aged 12 years or below

Published

8 years ago

on

MP Assembly passes Bill for awarding death penalty for rape of girls aged 12 years or below

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s cabinet had approved the Bill last week; NCRB 2016 report shows MP has highest incidence of rape in India

Days after a report by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) revealed that Madhya Pradesh continued with its dubious distinction of the highest incidence of rape – including cases where the victims were minors – in the country, the state’s Assembly has unanimously passed a Bill that proposes death penalty for those guilty of raping girls aged 12 or below in the state.

The Bill, which will now be sent to the Centre which in turn has to then refer it to President Ram Nath Kovind for his assent, is titled Dand Vidhi (Madhya Pradesh Sanshodhan) Vidheyak, 2017.

[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]

The passage of the Bill comes a week after the state cabinet, led by chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, approved its draft for being tabled in the Vidhan Sabha.

The Bill proposes death penalty, life imprisonment till death or a minimum term of 14-year rigorous imprisonment for raping girls aged 12 or below – the quantum of punishment will follow the rarest of the rare principle and be granted after the presiding judge in the case factors in various aspects of the crime. For gang rape of girls aged 12 or less, minimum punishment has been increased to 20 years rigorous imprisonment while the maximum will be the death penalty.

It also proposes a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh against repeat offenders in cases of molestation, stalking or harassment besides the existing provision for a jail term. The Bill will also recognise ‘rape on the pretext of marriage’ as a separate category of crime against women that will be punishable at par with cases of rape.

The BJP government in Madhya Pradesh, sources said, hopes that the stern provisions made under the Bill for sexual offences – especially against minor girls aged 12 years or below – will act as a deterrent for such crimes.

The government’s move to propose the radical changes to provisions in the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) also comes at a time when the Shivraj Singh Chouhan administration is facing increasing attacks from the Congress-led Opposition and civil society groups over the unabated rise in crimes against women in the state.

For several years in a row, MP has retained its dubious distinction of recording the highest number of rape cases in the country. This, even as Madhya Pradesh under Shivraj Singh Chouhan was the state which coined the BJP’s poll slogan of Beti Padhao, Beti Bachao – a pitch for women’s empowerment and security.

According to the latest Crime in India report released by the National Crime Records Bureau Madhya Pradesh once again accounted for the highest number of rape cases in the country in 2016 – 4882 cases out of a total of 38947 registered rape cases. Uttar Pradesh with 4816 cases and Maharashtra with 4189 cases had ranked at the second and third spots respectively. MP had ranked number in the total cases of rape but with fewer cases – 4391 out of a countrywide total of 34556.

More worrisome, and also pertinent to the Bill passed by the MP Assembly on Monday, is the fact that as per the Crime in India 2016 report the state also ranked the highest in cases of rape (413) and gang rape (29) registered against juvenile while it ranked third highest in crimes registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

According to the NCRB report, Madhya Pradesh accounted for 4717 cases out of a countrywide total of 36022 cases registered under the POCSO Act. The only other states that fared worse than Madhya Pradesh in this category were Uttar Pradesh with 4954 cases and Maharashtra with 4815 such cases.

Speaking in the Assembly on the issue, Chouhan said those who rape minor girls do not have the right to live.

[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

India News

Mamata Banerjee writes to poll chief over officers’ reshuffle, calls move arbitrary

Mamata Banerjee has written to the Chief Election Commissioner, calling the reshuffle of senior Bengal officials arbitrary and raising concerns over constitutional norms.

Published

22 seconds ago

on

March 17, 2026

By

mamta banerjee

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, raising strong objections to the recent reshuffle of senior bureaucrats in the state ahead of the assembly elections.

In her letter, Banerjee described the move by the Election Commission of India as “arbitrary” and expressed “deep concern” over what she termed a unilateral decision. She urged the Commission to refrain from adopting such measures in the future.

The Chief Minister pointed out that while the Election Commission does have the authority to make administrative changes during elections, past practice has involved consultation with the state government. According to her, the Commission would typically seek a panel of officers from the state and make its selections from that list, maintaining what she called constitutional propriety and administrative convention.

Banerjee warned that bypassing this process could undermine the institutional credibility and long-standing legacy of the poll body, and may also affect the foundational principles of the constitutional framework.

The controversy stems from the Commission’s decision, taken soon after announcing election dates, to remove several top officials from election-related duties. These include the state’s Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, Kolkata Police Commissioner, and Home Secretary.

The Commission has maintained that the reshuffle was aimed at ensuring a peaceful and violence-free electoral process.

Reacting sharply, Banerjee alleged bias in the decision-making, claiming that the removal of the Chief Secretary indicated an anti-women stance. She also accused the Commission of selectively targeting officers, suggesting that the move favoured individuals aligned with the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress escalated its protest, staging a day-long walkout from the Rajya Sabha earlier in the day.

Responding to the criticism, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the Election Commission is a constitutional authority, adding that questioning its decisions in Parliament is inappropriate and unproductive.

The Commission has appointed a new Chief Secretary in place of the outgoing official as part of the reshuffle.

Continue Reading

India News

Pakistan airstrike allegations on Kabul hospital leave hundreds dead, claims Taliban

Taliban alleges 400 deaths after a Pakistani airstrike hit a Kabul hospital, but Islamabad denies targeting civilian infrastructure.

Published

22 mins ago

on

March 17, 2026

By

pakistan fire

At least 400 people have been killed and around 250 others injured following an alleged Pakistani airstrike on a hospital in Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, according to Taliban officials.

Afghanistan’s deputy government spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat said the strike occurred around 9 pm local time and hit a major drug rehabilitation hospital in Kabul. The facility, which reportedly has a capacity of 2,000 beds, suffered extensive damage, with large sections destroyed in the attack.

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid strongly condemned the incident, accusing Pakistan of deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure. In a statement posted on X, he alleged that the strike hit a medical facility where patients were undergoing treatment, calling the act a violation of international norms and “a crime against humanity.”

Pakistan, however, rejected the accusations. The country’s officials termed the claims “baseless” and denied targeting any hospital in Kabul.

Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar stated that the military had carried out “precision airstrikes” but insisted the targets were military installations. According to him, the operations focused on “technical support infrastructure and ammunition storage facilities” at two locations in Kabul and in the eastern province of Nangarhar.

He further claimed that the strikes were aimed at infrastructure allegedly used to support militant groups, stressing that only specific targets were engaged.

The reported airstrike comes amid rising tensions between the two neighbouring countries. Afghan authorities said clashes along the border in recent days have resulted in casualties, with at least four people killed in Afghanistan.

The ongoing hostilities reportedly began in late February after Afghanistan launched cross-border actions in response to earlier Pakistani strikes, which Kabul claimed had caused civilian deaths.

The situation has further strained relations despite a ceasefire brokered last October. The truce had followed earlier violence that left dozens of civilians, soldiers, and suspected militants dead.

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has described the situation as an “open war,” signalling a sharp escalation in the conflict between the two nations.

Continue Reading

India News

BJP releases first list of 47 candidates for Kerala assembly polls

The BJP has released its first list of 47 candidates for the Kerala Assembly elections scheduled for April 9, including three former Union ministers.

Published

14 hours ago

on

March 16, 2026

By

BJP releases list of candidates

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday released its first list of 47 candidates for the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections scheduled for April 9.

Voting will take place for all 140 seats in the state assembly, with counting of votes scheduled for May 4. A party or coalition needs at least 70 seats to secure a majority in the House.

Among the candidates announced in the first list are three former Union ministers — Rajeev Chandrasekhar, V. Muraleedharan and George Kurian.

Key candidates announced

Kerala BJP chief and former Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar has been fielded from the Nemom assembly constituency. In the 2024 Lok Sabha election, Chandrasekhar lost the Thiruvananthapuram seat to three-time MP Shashi Tharoor, but he led in the Nemom assembly segment during that contest. The party believes this performance strengthens its prospects in the constituency.

Nemom has held political significance for the BJP since 2016, when senior leader O. Rajagopal won the seat and became the party’s first-ever MLA in the 140-member Kerala Legislative Assembly. The victory marked the BJP’s initial breakthrough in the state assembly.

However, the seat returned to the Left camp in the 2021 Assembly election when V. Sivankutty defeated BJP leader Kummanam Rajasekharan.

Former Union minister V. Muraleedharan will contest from the Kazhakoottam constituency, while George Kurian has been nominated from Kanjirappally.

Other candidates in the list

According to the list released by the party, several other candidates have also been announced for key constituencies. P. C. George will contest from Poonjar, R. Sreelekha from Vattiyoorkavu and Padmaja Venugopal from Thrissur.

The BJP has also nominated Sobha Surendran from Palakkad, Navya Haridas from Kozhikode North and Kavitha K. S. from Sulthanbathery, a reserved constituency.

Raji Prasad will contest from the Kunnathur seat reserved for Scheduled Castes, while R. Rashmi has been fielded from Kottarakkara.

Political backdrop in Kerala

Kerala’s electoral politics has traditionally alternated between the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF). However, the BJP has been attempting to expand its presence in the state.

The alternating trend was interrupted in the 2021 Assembly election when the electorate returned the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government to power for a second consecutive term.

The BJP believes recent electoral performances and local body successes have strengthened its position as it prepares to contest the upcoming assembly polls.

Continue Reading

Trending

© Copyright 2022 APNLIVE.com