Stalking non-bailable offence, death for child rapists – Delhi Assembly adopts resolution

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New Delhi: Amid concerns over the safety of minors and women in the national capital, the Delhi Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution seeking amendments to existing laws to make stalking a non-bailable offence and to award the death penalty to those convicted of raping minors.

The resolution was moved by Aam Aadmi Party member Alka Lamba.

Citing cases of murders of women by their stalkers, Lamba stressed on the urgency to bring an amendment to the section 354 D of the Indian Penal Code. Lamba had demanded that the government make stalking a non-bailable offence in an anti-stalking bill.

The resolution, backed by AAP MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj, demanded that the Delhi government present a Bill asking the Centre to amend the law.

Delhi Assembly resolution demands death penalty for rapists of minor victims under 12 years of age.

— Saurabh Bharadwaj (@Saurabh_MLAgk) March 27, 2018

Delhi Home Minister Satyendar Jain told the House that the government would present the Bill seeking amendments.

"The government will table the Bill. It will be sent to the Centre once it is passed by the Delhi Assembly," Jain said.

"We will soon bring a bill to make amendments in the IPC and also in the CrPC (Code of Criminal Procedure)," he said.

The minister also expressed hope that the Centre would not object to it.

''I am sure the Centre will pass it,'' he added.

"The law should be amended to make stalking a non-bailable offence. The law should also be amended to make juvenile rape punishable with the death penalty," the resolution stated.

The resolution in Delhi Assembly was passed days after Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan passed a bill to give death penalty to child rapists.

Resolution on strict laws to curb victims of stalking and minor rape victims adopted by the House. pic.twitter.com/i83JtM7dH4

— Delhi Assembly (@DelhiAssembly) March 27, 2018

The bill for giving either a death penalty or life imprisonment to those convicted of raping girls below 12 years of age was recently cleared by the Haryana State Assembly following the adoption of the same by state assemblies in MP and Rajasthan.

On March 9, Rajasthan became the second state after Madhya Pradesh to pass a bill providing for a death penalty to those convicted of raping girls of 12 years and below. 

The state assembly passed the Bill seeking to amend the Indian Penal Code with the insertion of new provision by voice vote.