Haryana Government on Tuesday decided to award death penalty or rigorous imprisonment of not less than 14 years extending upto life imprisonment to those convicted of raping girls aged 12 and below.
A proposal in this regard was approved during the cabinet meeting held under Chief Minister Manohar lal on Tuesday.
The State Government had last month attracted severe criticism from various quarters for deteriorating law and order condition after cases of two minor girls being allegedly raped and killed in separate incidents came to the fore. Apart from this, several rape cases were reported from various parts of Haryana last month.
“The existing criminal laws related to sexual offences committed against women and children have been made more stringent in Haryana by enhancing punishment including death penalty so as to deter the perpetrators. In case of rape or gang rape of woman upto 12 years of age, there will be a punishment of death or rigorous imprisonment of not less than 14 years which may extend to imprisonment for life i.e. for remainder period of person’s natural life,” said an official spokesman.
He said that the government has decided to amend such laws like Section 376A, 376D, 354 and 354 D (2) of Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Giving details, he said, according to the Section inserted under section 376AA of IPC, whoever commits rape on a woman upto 12 years of age will be punished with death or rigorous imprisonment for a term which will not be less than 14 years, but which may extend to imprisonment for the remainder of that person’s natural life and will also be liable to fine.
The spokesman said that another provision made under section 376D A of IPC, where a woman upto 12 years of age is raped by one or more persons constituting a group or acting in furtherance of a common intension, each of those persons shall be deemed to have committed the offence of rape and will be punished with death or rigorous imprisonment for a term which will not be less than 20 years, but which may extend to life imprisonment, and with fine.
Such a fine shall be just and reasonable to meet the medical expenses and rehabilitation of the victim. Any fine imposed under this section will be paid to the victim, said he.
Under section 354 of the IPC, whoever assaults or uses criminal force to any woman, intending to outrage or knowing it to be likely that he will thereby outrage her modesty shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which will not be less than two years but may extend upto seven years and shall also liable to fine.
Under Section 354D (2) of the IPC, whoever commits the offence or stalking will be punished on first conviction with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years and shall also liable to fine; and be punished on a second or subsequent conviction, with imprisonment of either description for a term which will not be less than three years, but may extend to seven years and will also be liable to fine, added he.
RECRUITMENT RUlES FOR POlICE MODIFIED
The cabinet approved the proposal of the Home Department to amend rule 12.16 of the Punjab Police Rules, 1934 to introduce additional qualification (10 per cent weightage) and miscellaneous (10 per cent weightage) in case of direct recruitment of constable and sub inspector and abolish interviews.
Apart from this, amendment in the Haryana Police (Non Gazetted and Other Ranks) Service Rules, 2017 is made to specify measurement in height and chest for the post of sub inspector and would enable the departmental candidates to apply in the rank of sub inspector.
Giving details, an official spokesman said that as per Punjab Police (Haryana Amendment) Rules, 2018, all vacancies in the rank of constable and 50 per cent of the total posts (both temporary and permanent) in the rank of sub inspector shall be filled up by direct recruitment through Haryana Staff Selection Commission.
Three per cent vacancies out of the vacancies to be filled up by direct recruitment shall be filled up from outstanding sportspersons.
If an FIR is lodged or is pending against a candidate, he shall not be treated eligible for application.
TEXTIlE AND HARYANA BIO-ENERGY POlICY 2018
The State Government decided to constitute an Empowered Ministerial Committee comprising Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister OP Dhankhar and Industries Minister Vipul Goel to recast the Haryana Agri-Business and Food Processing Policy, 2018 while approval was given to Textile Policy and Haryana Bio-Energy Policy 2018.
Keen on making Haryana a global hub of textile manufacturing, and a preferred investment destination, Haryana Government approved the new Textile Policy 2018 to incentivise setting up of new units, and ensure growth and modernization of the existing textile industry in the state. The policy is aimed at generating 50,000 new jobs by attracting investment in the textile sector to the tune of Rs 5,000 crore.
On the other hand, the Haryana Bio-Energy Policy 2018 will attract private investment for harnessing the potential of biomass based power/ biogas/ bio-CNG/ bio-manure/ bio-fuels etc and to support research and development of new technologies. The policy targets to install projects of 150 MW biomass based power generation or equivalent by 2022.
HARYANA GROUP D SERVANTS (CONDITIONS OF SERVICE BIll, 2018 APPROVED
With a view to ensure uniformity, equality and justice to all the strata of society, the State Government has approved a draft of the Haryana Group D Servants (Conditions of Service) Bill, 2018. The new Bill ensures common minimum age and educational qualifications as well as transparency in selection of candidates. Also, the Government will do away with the practice of interview in case of Group D posts, said the spokesman.
HARYANA WAIVE OFF SURCHARGE AMOUNT ON OUTSTANDING ElECTRICITY BIllS
The State Government has waived off the surcharge amount of 45543.40 lakh on outstanding electricity bills against Government Departments, Urban local Bodies and Panchayats to help facilitate settling of these outstanding bills.
It has been decided to freeze the surcharge amount on the outstanding electricity dues of all Government Departments as on December 31, 2017 after reconciliation provided the Government Departments clear their outstanding principal amount as on December 31, 2017 by April 30, 2018. This will be done after notification of the policy by the Power Department, added the spokesman.
