‘Will change POCSO Act, add death penalty for rapists of minors below 12 years old’: Maneka Gandhi

Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Maneka Gandhi has stated that her ministry will change the POCSO Act to reserve the death penalty for the rapists of minors. The move comes after a heinous rape and murder of an 8-year old girl in Jammu and Kashmir. The Minister has also demanded the death penalty for the Kathua rapists.

#BREAKING Big statement of intent by Union Mantri, Maneka Gandhi demands death penalty for Kathua rapists, says her Ministry will change the POSCO Act, ‘will add death penalty for rapists of minors’ @SherineElizabe2 with details #IndiaWithAsifapic.twitter.com/OJoCRV1sK6

— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) April 13, 2018

Madhya Pradesh was the first state to pass a law making provisions for awarding the death penalty to the rapists of girls below the age of 12. Soon after, Haryana followed suit with similar provisions for crimes against girls aged less than 12 years.

There have been demands for capital punishment for rapists for quite some time. If Maneka Gandhi goes forward with the proposed amendments to the POCSO Act, it will be consistent with the decisions of BJP ruled states in recent times as well.