Goa MP Seeks Law for Death Penalty for Rapists

Mr Shantaram Naik M.P. today moved a private members amendment bill to amend section 376 of Indian penal code dealing with rape, to provide for death penalty of certain category of offences of rape.
In his statement of Objects and reasons, Mr Naik says, certain classes of rapes are to be handled differently providing for more stringent punishment considering the circumstances under which such offences are committed.

The bill provides that for death penalty or imprisonment for life to:
Whoever,-
(a) being a police officer commits rape-

(i) within the limits of the police station to which he is appointed; or
(ii) in the premises of any station house whether or not situated in the police station to which he is appointed; or
(iii) on a woman in his custody or in the custody of a police officer subordinate to him; or

(b) being a public servant, takes advantage of his official position and commits rape on a woman in his custody as such public servant or in the custody of a public servant subordinate to him; or

(c) being on the management or on the staff of a jail, remand home or other place of custody established by or under any law for the time being in force or of a women’ s or children’ s institution takes advantage of his official position and commits rape on any inmate of such jail, remand home, place or institution; or

(d) being on the management or on the staff of a hospital, takes advantage of his official position and commits rape on a woman in that hospital; or

(e) commits rape on a woman knowing her to be pregnant; or

(f) commits rape on a woman when she is under twelve years of age; or

(g) commits gang rape .

Offences of rape committed by the aboverefered category of persons or committed in the circumstances mentioned above has to be treated differently, Mr Naik says in his statement