Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Amendment Bill: Laws against sexual offences
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has introduced the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita in Parliament to replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which was based on the recommendations of the first Law Commission headed by Thomas Babington Macaulay.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has introduced the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita in Parliament to replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which was based on the recommendations of the first Law Commission headed by Thomas Babington Macaulay.
"A welcome section as per the proposed Bill is Section 69 which has introduced 'Sexual Intercourse by employing deceitful means, etc., which encompasses false promise to marry, of employment, promotion or by way of a false identity," Advocate Anant Malik said.
The said offence attracts punishment of imprisonment which may extend to 10 years along with fine.
"In the proposed bill the inquiry and trial related to sexual offences shall be conducted in camera which will increase the conviction rate of such cases and victims will get justice and it will also raise the accountability of police officers and courts," said Rudra Vikram Singh, Advocate.
He said that the investigation related to sexual offences and POCSO will have to be concluded within 60 days from the date on which the information was recorded by the officer in charge of the police station, however the Government of India vide Criminal Law amendment Act (2018) already mandates completion of investigation and filing of charge sheet in rape cases in two months and trials to also be completed in two months.
These are definitely changes which are going to help in tackling new dimensions that earlier went unnoticed or undealt with.
"Apart from this, gang rape of minor will attract life imprisonment or death penalty. Earlier there was a segregation of sections when it came to gang rape which was according to the age of the victim, i.e., 'under 16 years' and 'under 12 years'. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita has now done away with this and has worded the new section as 'under 18 years of age'," Malik told.
