New Bill for Sexual Offence:

The proposed law makes it mandatory to end the trial of cases relating to sexual offences within a 6 month period.

The sexual offences (special courts) bill is almost finalised and is awaiting a Cabinet nod.

The new law proposes:

  • Sexual abuse is defined to include not just physical but also mental harassment. Punishment for both to be similar.

  • Sexual abuse to be treated on par as rape, which means punishment for both to be equally stringent. Until now, maximum punishment for sexual abuse is one year.

  • Onus to prove that suicide was not due to sexual harassment lies with the accused.

  • All cases of sexual harassment to be dealt with special courts and cleared within 6 months to a year.

Source: ibn-live

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