Centre does U-turn on anti-rape Bill, dilutes age of consent for sex, stalking
Bowing to pressure from political parties, government today retained the age of consent for sex at 18 years and also watered down provisions on stalking and voyeurism in the anti-rape bill which seeks stringent punishment for crimes against women.
The Union Cabinet, at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, cleared amendments to the The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill-2013 agreed at an all party meeting today, paving the way for its introduction in Parliament tomorrow.
The latest version of the Bill retains the age of consent to 18 years as was in the Ordinance promulgated last month.
In a Cabinet meeting on Thursday, the government had decided to lower the age of consent to 16 years, triggering protests from political parties, including the BJP and SP.
The age of consent for sex was 16 years under the IPC before Government promulgated an ordinance on February 3 this year, raising it to 18 years.
At today's meeting, the government also diluted the sections dealing with voyeurism and stalking to "reduce gross abuse". Now, both the offences will be bailable for first time offenders. However, repeat offenders would be denied bail and punishment would extend to a maximum of five years in jail.
In a bid to prevent misuse, the term stalking has been defined and it would be deemed as offence only when indulged into persistently.
Disrobing a woman by force, even at a private place including a house, would be a punishable offence with jail term of up to seven years.
Earlier, disrobing a woman at a
