Cabinet nod to stringent punishment for sexual assault

The Union Cabinet has approved the introduction of the Criminal Law (Amendment ) Bill, 2012, in Parliament to broaden the scope of the legal offence of sexual assault to ensure more stringent punishments for sexual offences including rape. The Bill envisages to make rape a gender-neutral offence by replacing the word 'rape' with the phrase 'sexual assault'. The amendment would expand the definition so that cases of sexual assault where the victims are male, would also fall under the same law along with cases where the victims were women. The punishment for sexual assault will be a minimum of seven years which may be extended to imprisonment for life. For aggravated sexual assault, the punishment will be rigorous imprisonment not less than ten years which may extend to life imprisonment and also fine.
The Cabinet also approved the proposal to relax the condition of enhancement of age of superannuation of teachers to 65 in state institutions for the implementation of the revised pay scales on the basis of Sixth Pay Commission recommendations and become eligible for receiving Central share of 80% of the arrear payment. It also decided that reimbursement of 80% of the Central share of the arrears be paid in 2-3 instalments to those States who have already made the payment and submitted their proposals for reimbursements to the Central Government. The decision of Cabinet is expected to provide relief to teachers in State institutions with the payment of arrears. It will also benefit State Governments, who will be able to make the arrear payment in instalments and also claim reimbursements simultaneously.

AIR Correspondent reports that, following the revision of pay scales of Central Government employees on the recommendation of the 6th Pay Commission, the pay scales of teachers and other equivalent cadres was revised and age of superannuation was enhanced to 65 in December 2008. The scheme of revised pay scales was essentially for teachers in Central Educational Institutions.

However, provisions of the Scheme could be made applicable by State Governments, to Universities and Colleges coming under the purview of the State Governments, provided the State Governments adopt and implement the scheme as a composite scheme, including the enhanced age of superannuation.

The Cabinet has also approved the extension of tenure of Justice M.B. Shah Commission of inquiry till 16th July, 2013. The Commission was set up to identify cases of illegal mining, and also to identify regulatory and monitoring system failures in curbing illegal mining.

arliament gave its seal of approval to the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Bill, 2012 as the Lok Sabha passed it today. The Rajya Sabha has passed it earlier. The bill provides for protection of children from offences of sexual assault, sexual harassment and pornography and provides for establishment of special courts for trial of such offences. Replying to the debate on the Bill, Minister for Women and Child Development Krishna Tirath said that the government is committed to ensure a protective environment for the children as they are the future leaders of the country. She said that the Bill provides stringent laws against the sexual assaults on children and even it covers mala fide intentions in this regard.

The Election Commission has banned the release of fresh grants under the Member of Parliament, Member of Legislative Assembly and Member of Legislative Council, Local Area Development Funds in the ten poll-bound states where bye-election is schedule to be held on 2nd and 12th of June this year.The move comes in view of the Model Code of Conduct which comes into force after the announcement of poll schedule. The states where the bye elections are being held are Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Jharkhand, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. The Poll panel has also works under work order can start only after the completion of election process.

Forest and Environment Minister Jayanti Natrajan introduced the Indian Forest Amendment Bill, 2012 in the Rajya Sabha today.

The Bill proposes to insert a new sub-section in section 68 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927 to make it mandatory for the Forest officer to obtain and record the news of Gram Sabha before compounding the offence.

The purpose is to ensure the transparency in compounding of the offences and participation of the people at Gram Sabha level.

t Section 68 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927 has provisions for compounding of offences.

It confers the power upon a Forest officer appointed by the State Government, to accept from any person against whom a reasonable suspicion exists that he has committed any forest-offence, a sum of money by way of compensation for the offence which such person is suspected to have committed.