The government has proposed to lower the age for consensual sex from 18 to 16. It has also sought the reintroduction of the word “rape” as a replacement for “sexual assault” in the new Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill. The draft of the bill has been readied by the government to replace the recently-promulgated criminal law amendment ordinance.
Official sources said the Union Cabinet is expected to discuss the draft of the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill 2013 in its next meeting.
The changes are in line with the recommendations of the Justice Verma panel. However, the draft bill does not include marital rape as recommended by the panel.
The proposed bill incorporates most of the clauses which are part of the Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance 2013 promulgated on February 3 following recommendations of the Justice JS Verma Commission, constituted in the wake of the December 16 gang rape in Delhi. The draft bill, however, continues to ‘shield’ security personnel involved in crimes against women in disturbed areas under the controversial AFSPA, sources said.
As per the bill, hospitals, nursing homes, private or public medical care centres will have to provide treatment to women victims. Failure to do so will be punishable under law.
It also proposes enhanced punishment for other crimes against women like stalking, voyeurism, acid attacks, indecent gestures like words and inappropriate touch. To make the law women-friendly, the draft bill also suggests that only a woman police officer will take the statement of the victim of the sexual crime.
