Parliament’s approval of POCSO shows MPs stand united to protect the nation’s future: Irani

NEW DELHI: The Parliament smoothly passing a Bill providing for the death penalty for aggravated sexual offences against children conveys a strong message that people’s representatives stand together in protecting the country’s future, WCD Minister Smriti Irani said on Thursday.
The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2019, providing for the death penalty for aggravated sexual offences against children and sterner punishments for other crimes against minors was passed by Lok Sabha on Thursday.

The Rajya Sabha had passed it earlier on July 29.
Piloting the Bill, Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani said it aims at making offences against children gender-neutral.
Cutting across party lines, members supported amendments to the POCSO Act though some of them demanded that Bill be referred to a standing committee or a select committee as it makes certain offences punishable with death.

Highlighting the salient features of the Bill in a series of tweets, Irani also thanked the members of Parliament for supporting it.
“My gratitude to the members of the both Houses of Parliament for ensuring the smooth passage of POCSO Amendment Bill, 2019 and conveying a strong message to the Nation that as representatives of the people, we stand together in safeguarding the future of our nation,” she said in a tweet.

“Through POCSO Amendment Bill, 2019, Parliament has for the first time identified the threat posed by child pornography and recognised it as a criminal offence with the quantum of punishment ranging from a fine of Rs 5,000 to the imprisonment up to 7 years,” she said in another tweet.
Taking into account, the sexual crimes against vulnerable children, Irani said the POCSO Amendment Bill includes such crimes in difficult circumstances under its ambit.
“Convicts will face stringent punishment up to imprisonment for life,” she said.

In cases of aggravated sexual assaults, the POCSO Amendment Bill, 2019 introduces minimum jail term of 20 years or for the entire life and death penalty in rare cases as per the courts’ discretion, she said in another tweet. “A salient feature of POCSO Amendment Bill, 2019 is the recognition of rising instances of administration of drugs to children to facilitate the attainment of early sexual maturity,” she said. PTI