Smriti Irani introduces bill to amend POCSO Act in Rajya Sabha

In a move to deal with cases of child sexual abuse, Union Minister Smriti Irani on Thursday introduced a bill in the Rajya Sabha to amend the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, that aims to make punishment more stringent and even include death penalty for offenders involved in sexual crimes against minors.

The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2019 also provides for stringent punishment for storing and distributing pornographic material as well as life imprisonment, for using children for pornographic purposes.

The amendment bill that was introduced earlier this year but lapsed due to the Lok Sabha elections, was cleared by the Union cabinet last week and seeks to amend the existing POCSO act of 2012.

According to the amendment bill, those committing penetrative sexual assaults on a child below 16 years of age would be punished with imprisonment up to 20 years, which might extend to life imprisonment as well as fine.

To curb child pornography, the Bill provides that those who use a child for pornographic purposes should be punished with imprisonment for up to five years and a fine. However, in the event of second or subsequent conviction, the punishment would be extended up to seven years along with a fine.

In a statement of objects and reasons, the bill mentioned that the incidence of child sexual abuse cases demonstrating the inhumane mindset of the abusers who have been barbaric in their approach towards young victims, is rising.

'Children are becoming easy prey because of their tender age, physical vulnerabilities and inexperience of life and society," the bill said.

There has been a rise in crime against children in the country in the recent years. It is estimated that 1.6 lakh cases of child abuse are pending in 31 states and Union Territories (UTs).

As per official data, about 12,609 rape cases were registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act this year.