New Delhi, March 12
The Union Home Ministry informed the Lok Sabha that tackling crimes against women and children has been prioritized and placed under one chapter in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
In a written response during the question hour, MoS for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar said strict punishments up to death sentence have been provided for offences against women.
Garhwal MP Baluni had asked if tackling crimes against women and children has received priority in the new criminal laws, which have replaced the British-era Indian Penal Code.
He said, “Punishment for gangrape of a woman below the age of 18 years is life imprisonment till the remainder of the convict’s natural life or death. A new offence for having sexual intercourse on false promise of marriage, employment, promotion or by concealing identity, etc has also been incorporated in BNS".
Kumar further said, “In the BNS, 2023, for the first time, provisions relating to crimes against women and children have been given precedence and placed under one chapter. The government is committed to preventing human trafficking. Section 143 of the BNS provides provisions for strict punishment up to life imprisonment for offence of human trafficking,” it said, adding that when the offence involves the trafficking of a child, it shall be punished with imprisonment not less than 10 years but which may extend to imprisonment for life.
