'Begun process to ensure death penalty for child rape under POCSO Act,' says Centre to Supreme Court

NEW DELHI: The Centre today said it has begun the process to ensure those convicted of child rape get the death penalty, reported ANI.

The Centre told the Supreme Court (SC) it will ensure an amendment to the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act to ensure the maximum punishment of the death penalty in cases of the rape of children of under 12 years of age. POCSO was framed to protect children from offenses of sexual abuse, sexual harassment and pornography and to provide a child-friendly system for the trial of these offences.

The Centre's remark to the SC came in response to a PIL filed on the issue. The next hearing is scheduled for April 27.

Last week, a "deeply, deeply disturbed" Maneka Gandhi said that she intends to ask for the death penalty for those who rape children below 12 years of age.

The women and child development minister's comment came amid a groundswell of horror at the bid to communalise the gory gang rape and murder of an eight-year-old in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua, and another incident of rape in Unnao in Uttar Pradesh.

"Am deeply, deeply disturbed by the rape case in Kathua, and all the recent rape cases. I and the ministry intend to bring an amendment to the POCSO Act asking for the death penalty for the rape of children below 12 years of age," said Maneka.