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.

The government today agreed to issue a Presidential reference to the Supreme Court on the apex court's order cancelling 122 2G telecom licences. Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal told reporters after the Cabinet meeting that the proposal for Presidential reference has been cleared. The Department of Telecom feels that the judgement has ramifications on several other sectors which also use the Supreme Court condemned 'first-come-first-serve' policy for allocation of natural resources. The Department had hence sought Presidential reference for clarifications from the Apex court.

The government's limited review petition on the process of auction to be followed on the cancelled licences, has been accepted by the Supreme Court. The apex court had, however, rejected 10 other petitions filed by telecom companies seeking review of its February order.

Government has banned the import of Chinese milk products. Ban was imposed because the milk products were found contaminated with a dangerous chemical called melamine.

He said the government prohibited the import of milk and milk products including Chocolate products, candies, confectionery and food preparations with milk or milk solids as ingredient.

The government has declared holiday on 14th April on account of the birthday of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar

The government has adopted a multi-pronged strategy to provide momentum to exploration and production of crude oil in the country. The Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Mr R P N Singh said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha that the government is also setting up of the underground strategic storages in the form of rock cavern with a total capacity of 5.33 million metric tones. These storages will be located at Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh and at Mangalore and Padur in Karnataka. The storage projects are expected to be commissioned in a phased manner from April next year. The Minister said the feasibility study for about 12.5 million metric tones strategic oil reserves is in progress in Karnataka, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Odisha. Replying to the main question, the Minister said as per the International Energy Agency report in 2011 that proven reserves of oil increased to 1.47 trillion barrels at the end of 2010

Government today informed that one lakh 47 thousand Metric Tons of e-waste was generated in the country in the year 2005 which is expected to increase to about eight lakh metric tons by the end of this year.the Minister of State for Environment and Forests Mrs. Jayanthi Natarajan said that under the existing Rules, import of e-waste for dumping is not permitted in the country. She said that import is permitted only for reuse or recycling or reprocessing with the permission of the Ministry of Environment and Forests and Directorate General of Foreign Trade.

Minister informed that during the last two years, no permission for import of e-waste has been given by the Ministry for recycling or re-processing. Mrs. Natarajan informed that for the effective handling of management of e-waste, the Ministry of Environment and Forests has also notified separate e-waste rules, 2011. These rules will come into effect from 1st May of this year.

he government says cancellation of 2G licences by the Supreme Court last month did not have any material impact on public sector banks. Minister of State for Finance Namo Narain Meena said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha today that the cancelled licences represent certain circle or areas only. The Supreme Court cancelled One hundred twenty two 2G spectrum licences granted by former telecom minister A.Raja on the ground that they were issued in a totally arbitrary and unconstitutional manner. 

Mr. Meena said that government is closely monitoring the financial impact of the order of the Supreme Court on the banking sector in general and Public sector banks, PSB in particular. PSBs have sanctioned loans aggregating 18,571.24 crore rupees to nine companies affected by 2G verdic 

24 march