Govt Approves Death Penalty for Serious Sexual Assault Under POCSO

Protests against child abuse. Image used for representational purposes.

(Photo Courtesy: Facebook/AWARE)

The Union Cabinet on Friday, 28 December, announced the strengthening of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, approving death penalty in cases of aggravated sexual offences under the act.

Acting to make punishment more stringent for committing sexual crimes against children, the Cabinet approved amendments to various sections of the POCSO Act that came into being in 2012.

The government has also introduced stringent measures to check circulation of child pornography and administration of hormones to children to attain early sexual maturity.

Briefing reporters, Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said children should be protected from sexual offences.

“This is a wholesome initiative whereby the entire POCSO architecture is not only strengthened but also enlarged so that artificial medicines or hormones could not be abused to kill the childhood of a child.., Our aim is to prevent children from falling victim to sexual aggression”

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad

An unfortunate thing was going on in the country – that children were being administered hormones to make them artificially majors, he said.

The related provision of the POCSO Act – Section 9 – has been made more stringent, the minister said.

To curb child pornography, the Law Minister said stringent punishment will be given to those "circulating such material for commercial or other purposes".