Amidst din, without any discussion in the ongoing Monsoon Session, the Karnataka Assembly passed an amendment to the Goonda Act seeking to bring sexual offences, including rape, under its ambit.
The Amendment Bill describes a person involved in a sexual offence as a “sexual predator”. It defines sexual predator as a person who commits or attempts or abets the commission of any offence under Sections 376, 376(A), 376(B), 376(C), 376(D) and 376(E) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.
The recent incidents of rape and especially rape of a six-year-old in an upmarket school has evoked strong protests and the ruling Siddaramaiah Government was under attack for its failure in taking immediate steps to arrest the culprits.
The Bill also includes acid attacks, illegal sand mining, quarrying, land grabbing and money laundering. The Bill under Amended law is called the Karnataka Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Bootleggers, Drug-Offenders, Slum-Grabbers and Video or Audio Pirates Act, 1985 (widely known as Goonda Act). The Bill was passed in both the houses. The Amendment Bill was tabled by Home Minister K J George and speaker Kagodu Thimmappa declared the bill passed even as leader of Opposition, Jagadish Shettar of the BJP opposed passing of the bill without any discussion.