After Centre, J&K govt sanctions death penalty for raping girls under 12

Amir Karim Tantray
Tribune News Service
Jammu, April 24

Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet on Tuesday approved death sentence in rape cases involving girls up to age 12, and life sentence for those raping girls under 16.

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s Cabinet approved two ordinances—Criminal Law Ordinance, 2018, and J&K Protection of Children from Sexual Violence Ordinance, 2018. The state government ordinances mirrored the central government's recently passed o

Minister for Finance Syed Muhammad Altaf Bukhari and Minister for

Law and Justice Abdul Haq Khan, who addressed a joint press briefing after the cabinet meeting, said that the two new ordinances were aimed at curbing sexual violence against minor girls, and would act as deterrent for crimes against women in general.

“It was a commitment made by CM Mehbooba Mufti and today, the decision has been taken,” Bukhari said.

The development follows backlash and protests over the rape and murder of an 8-year-old nomad girl from the Bakerwal Muslim community in Kathua.