The Union Cabinet on Friday has approved amendments to the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act to make punishment more stringent in sexual crimes against minors.
The amendment is expected to discourage the trend of child sexual abuse by acting as a
deterrent due to strong penal provisions incorporated in the Act, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told media persons on Friday.
While briefing the presser, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, “Cabinet has approved death penalty in aggravated sexual offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.”
Union Law Minister, Ravi Shankar Prasad: Cabinet has approved death penalty in aggravated sexual offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. pic.twitter.com/E1JB8xCOOq
— ANI (@ANI) December 28, 2018
Cabinet approves amendments to #POCSO Act to make punishment more stringent for committing sexual crimes against children. pic.twitter.com/FwmrstPejJ
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) December 28, 2018
He said the new amendment may protect the interest of vulnerable children in times of
distress and ensures their safety and dignity. The amendment aims to establish clarity regarding the aspects of child abuse and punishment thereof.
The POCSO Act 2012 was enacted to protect the Children from Offences of Sexual Assault, and Sexual harassment.
Union Law Minister Prasad, said, the cabinet has approved the amendment in Section-4, Section-5, Section-6, Section-9, Section-14, Section-15 and Section-42 of the Act. This is done to address the aspects of child sexual abuse in the appropriate manner. Moreover, The Cabinet has also given its nod and allowed the death penalty, for committing aggravated penetrative sexual assault crime on a child to protect the children from sexual abuse.
The Minister said Section-14 and Section-15 of the POCSO Act are also proposed to be amended to address the menace of the child pornography. It is proposed to levy fine for not destroying/or deleting/ or reporting the pornographic material involving a child.
The person can be further penalized with jail term or fine or both for transmitting or
circulating such material in any manner except for the purpose of reporting as may be
prescribed and for use as evidence in court.
The Cabinet meeting was held on Thursday under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.