NEW DELHI: Indian lawmakers on Tuesday (Dec 22) passed a
bill allowing harsher punishments for juveniles aged 16-18 after an outcry over
the release of a young rapist who served three years in a detention facility
for his part in a notorious gang-rape in 2012.
"I think the ayes have it, the ayes have it, the ayes
have it. The bill has been passed," P.J. Kurien, a speaker of the upper
house of parliament, said after a day-long debate on the bill.
The release two days ago of the youngest convict in the case
of the fatal gang-rape of medical student Jyoti Singh in December 2012 triggered
widespread calls for amendments to the existing law.
The changes to the law will allow minors aged 16 onward to
be sentenced to at least seven years in young offenders' institutions if
convicted of "heinous crimes" including rape and murder. However, they
will not face the death penalty.
Source: Channel News Asia...Full News...
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