Rajya Sabha passes anti-rape bill

The Rajya Sabha on Thursday passed the much awaited Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2013 which keeps the age for consensual sex at 18 years.

Rajya Sabha clears the bill which says voyeurism, acid attacks, stalking and the trafficking of women are punishable offence. It proposes first offence of stalking is bailable.

The Bill was introduced in the upper house by Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde. The bill was earlier cleared by the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

Sushil Kumar Shinde said that the bill is tough and it provides strong punishment for crimes against women such as acid attack and voyeurism. He said the decision of fixing age for consensual sex at 18 was taken after speaking to all political parties.

This bill is however over-ruled Justice JS Verma committee report where he proposed no death penalty for the rapists and he recommended marital rape should be considered as a criminal offence.

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