This article was last updated on April 16, 2022
Canada: 
Oye! Times readers Get FREE $30 to spend on Amazon, Walmart…
USA: Oye! Times readers Get FREE $30 to spend on Amazon, Walmart…
The draft Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill was again deterred on Tuesday as government officials debate on the reintroduction of word ‘rape’ instead of ‘sexual assault’ in the anti-rape law and lowering the age of consensual sex from 18 to 16.
Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde told reporters, “There is a difference of opinion on legal points, which is being addressed to and it will be taken up tomorrow at the special cabinet meeting.”
The Bill has now been referred to the Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) to find a common ground between all the departments. Apparently, the ministry of women and child development is not fully convinced to lower the age of consensual sex from 18 to 16. On the other hand, the law ministry has raised objections over replacing ‘sexual assault’ with ‘rape’. Headed by finance minister P Chidambaram, the EGoM is tasked to finalize the draft Bill at its earliest.
“The Bill has to stand the scrutiny of Parliament and later judiciary. A consensus is must for the government before moving ahead. In all likelihood, the draft Bill will not undergo major changes now and will soon be brought before Cabinet,” said an official.
The President promulgated the ordinance in the wake of public outrage over the Delhi gang-rape. The bill which seeks to make punishment for crime against women more stringent is different on at least four counts from an ordinance issued recently.
Be the first to comment