Death for child rape: 'Disastrous consequences for children,' says ex-HC chief justice
Former Delhi High Court Chief Justice AP Shah
'Not only is the enhancement of punishment to include death penalty futile, but it will also have disastrous consequences for children. I urge everyone to reject the ordinance and focus on reforming the criminal justice system,' AP Shah said
After the Delhi High Court reprimanded the Centre over the ordinance passed to amend the POCSO Act, the former Delhi High Court chief justice AP Shahsaid on Monday that the enhancement of punishment will have "disastrous consequences for children".
Calling theinclusion of the death penalty "futile",he urged "everyone" to reject the ordinance. He also expressed the need for reforming the criminal justice system.
He said, "Not only is the enhancement of punishment to include death penalty futile, but it will also have disastrous consequences for children. I urge everyone to reject the ordinance and focus on reforming the criminal justice system".
Earlier the Delhi High Court had questioned the Centre over theordinance awarding death penalty to those found guilty of having raped a girlbelow the age 12.
The High Court said, "Did you carry out any study, any scientific assessment that death penalty is a deterrent to rape? Have you thought of the consequences to the victim? How many offenders would allow their victims to survive now that rape and murder have the same punishment".
The Cabinet had on Saturday passed an Ordinance which proposed punishments ranging from 20 years life term to death for the rape of girls under the age of 12which was approved by President Kovind on Sunday.
The High Court said the government was "not even looking at the root cause" or "educating people" as the offenders are often found below the age of 18 and are mainly someone from the family or known to them.