Current Affairs - State - Discussion

On 9th March 2018, a bill approving death penalty to those convicted of raping or gang-raping a girl who is aged 12 years or below, was passed by Rajasthan assembly. Rajasthan has become the second state in India after Madhya Pradesh to approve death sentence for those convicted of raping girls aged 12 years and below. Gulab Chand Kataria, Rajasthan home minister, introduced the Criminal Laws (Rajasthan Amendment) Bill, 2018 in the assembly. It was passed by a voice vote. Sections 376-AA and 376-DD have been added in the Indian Penal Code, 1860, in regard with rape and gang-rape of young girls. It provides that, whoever rapes or gang-rapes a girl up to 12 years of age shall be punished to death or a rigorous imprisonment for a minimum of 14 years and 20 years respectively for the sections. This can be extended for imprisonment of the offender's whole life along with fine.