HC notice to Centre on plea against changes in rape law

The Delhi High Court on Friday issued notice to the central government on a plea seeking to strike down the amendments made in the rape law post December 16 gangrape incident here, claiming that amendments are being abused.

A division bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice V.K. Rao sought response from the government by July 5 on a plea filed by academician Madhu Purnima Kishwar.

The plea sought striking down of some of the provisions of the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013, which provides for amendments to the Indian Penal Code, Indian Evidence Act and Code of Criminal Procedure on laws related to sexual offences.

The plea also sought a direction to reconsider the case in which a sentence of imprisonment has been passed post the amendments.

It also sought direction to summon records from the National Crime Records Bureau and Tihar Jail, among others, to assess the profiling features of rape prosecution post the 2013 amendments.

After the gangrape of a 23-year-old woman on December 16, 2012, a committee under the chairmanship of a retired Supreme Court judge was constituted to suggest amendments to the criminal law to sternly deal with sexual assault cases.

--IANS

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