Ballia: The Centre's move to pass an ordinance, through which death penalty could be awarded in case of rape leading to death of victim, has received support from the brother of Delhi gang-rape victim.
He told a news agency over phone today that public outrage nationally and internationally after the brutal incident had forced the Centre to frame stringent law.
The brother said the Centre's move to make provisions for death penalty in case of rape and murder, and life term in case of rape, was an appreciable step, and hoped that it would now pave the way for capital punishment to the accused in the Delhi gang-rape case.
He said just as the government took a positive initiative in the direction of stringent anti-rape law, it should also frame a law to reduce the age of juvenile immediately.
One of the six accused in the gang-rape case has been declared a "minor" by the Juvenile Justice Board and could walk free by June 4, when he attains 18 years of age.
The 23-year-old paramedical student was gang-raped and brutally assaulted in December last year. She died a few days later in a Singapore hospital.
Rape that leads to death of the victim or leaving her in a vegetative state can attract death penalty under an ordinance cleared by the Union Cabinet last night, incorporating the Justice JS Verma Committee recommendations on tightening rape laws in the country.
PTI
First Published: Saturday, February 02, 2013, 13:24