Centre proposes death penalty for rapist of minors

New Delhi, April 20: The Central government on Friday told the Supreme Court that it is proposing the death penalty for those convicted of raping children below the age of 12.

The proposal has come in the backdrop of nationwide outrage over the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir, and sexual assault of a teenager in Unnao in Uttar Pradesh.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Deepak Misra was told by the Ministry of Women and Child Development that it is "proposing" to amend the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for introducing "death penalty" to the convicts of child rape.

The issue raised in the petition regarding the amendment of the provisions of the POCSO Act, 2012, so as to proving maximum punishment of 'death penalty' for commission of offences of rape of children of 0-12 years of age group is under active consideration of the Ministry.