Union Cabinet: Tougher laws against rapists, special remission for prisoners approved

New Delhi, July 18: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2018, which would be introduced in the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament. The Bill will replace Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance, 2018, which was promulgated on April 21, 2018.

The Criminal Law ( Amendment) Bill, 2018, provides for stringent punishment including death penalty for those convicted of raping girls below the age of 12 years. The proposed bill stipulates stringent punishment for perpetrators of rape, particularly of girls below 12 years. Death sentence has been provided for rapists of girls under 12 years. The minimum punishment in case of rape of women has been increased from rigorous imprisonment of seven years to 10 years, extendable

Union Cabinet has also approved special remission to prisoners on the occasion of 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved proposal for continuation of Pre-Matric, Post Matric and Merit-cum-Means based Scholarship Schemes for the students belonging to the six notified Minority Communities during 2017-18 to 2019-20.

The CCEA approved fair and remunerative price for 2018-19 sugar season payable by sugar mills at Rs 275/- per quintal for a basic recovery rate of 10% for sugar.

The Cabinet also approved setting up of a Central University in Andhra Pradesh, Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar said.

"Very happy that #Cabinet approves Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2018 to set up Central University of #AndhraPradesh. This will result in more facilities for Andhra Pradesh in higher education.

"In a historic first, Central University of #AndhraPradesh will start academic session on 5th August, 2018. Earlier the practice was different - First the cabinet will take decision, then the bill will be passed in parliament. That meant loss of atleast one year," Javadekar said in a series of tweets.

The Human Resource Development Minister further said,"To save on time @narendramodi govt. created a different rule... formed a society and started the college immediately under the mentor-ship of Hyderabad Central University. This is unique and Andhra People will celebrate."

OneIndia News with PTI inputs