Crime against women, children to be dealt with harsher punishment

The proposed new criminal laws in the country will lead to stricter punishment for crimes against women and children, and criminalise sexual intercourse on the basis of false promises of marriage, employment and promotion.

"In all cases of gang rape, a provision of 20 years of punishment or life imprisonment has been made, which is not being implemented today. In the case of girls below 18 years of age, a provision of death penalty has also been kept," an official statement said on Friday. "There was no provision for mobile phone or chain snatching from women, but now provision has been kept for the same."

As per the proposed laws, statement of the victim will be compulsory in the case of sexual violence and video recording of the statement will also be made compulsory in the case of sexual harassment. It will be compulsory for the police to give the status of the complaint to the complainant in 90 days and thereafter in every 15 days. No government will be able to withdraw a case of imprisonment of 7 years or more without hearing the victim, this will protect the rights of the citizens.


The concept of Zero FIR is being introduced to ensure the convenience of the citizens. "Wherever the crime may have happened, the citizens will be able to lodge complaint even outside of their police station area. Within 15 days of the registration of crime, it will have to be forwarded to the concerned police station. For the first time, we are adding the provision of e-FIR," Shah noted.

The scope of summary trial in small cases will be increased. Now offenses punishable up to 3 years will be included in summary trial, with this provision alone more than 40 percent cases in sessions courts will be finished. A time limit of 90 days has been fixed for filing the charge sheet and depending on the situation, and the court will be able to give permission for further 90 days. In this way, within 180 days, the investigation will have to be completed and will be forwarded for trial. Courts will now be bound to give notice of framing of charges to the accused person within 60 days.

The trial judge will have to give the decision within 30 days of the completion of the argument, this will not keep the decision pending for years, and the decision will have to be made available online within 7 days.