Bill introduces death penalty for aggravated sexual assault of children

This Bill amends the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 to increase penalties for sexual offenses against children, introduce the death penalty for aggravated penetrative sexual assault, and define and criminalize child pornography and related acts.

The law applies to any person who commits sexual offenses against children, possesses or distributes child pornography, or administers substances to induce early sexual maturity in a child. It also affects the Central Government, which is empowered to make rules regarding the handling of pornographic material.

• Defines 'child pornography' to include visual depictions of sexually explicit conduct involving a child, including digital or computer-generated images.
• Increases the minimum imprisonment for penetrative sexual assault from seven years to ten years.
• Mandates a minimum of twenty years' imprisonment (extendable to life) for penetrative sexual assault on a child below sixteen years of age.
• Introduces the death penalty as a punishment option for aggravated penetrative sexual assault, alongside rigorous imprisonment of at least twenty years or life.
• Adds 'causes death of the child' as an aggravating circumstance for penetrative sexual assault.
• Expands the definition of aggravated offenses to include acts committed during natural calamities or similar situations, not just communal or sectarian violence.
• Criminalizes persuading, inducing, or coercing a child to take drugs, hormones, or chemicals to attain early sexual maturity.
• Establishes penalties for using children for pornographic purposes, with stricter sentences for repeat offenders.
• Creates offenses for storing or possessing child pornography with intent to share, or for commercial purposes, with specific fines and imprisonment terms.
• Requires fines imposed for sexual assault to be paid to the victim for medical expenses and rehabilitation.
• Empowers the Central Government to make rules for the manner of deleting, destroying, or reporting child pornography to designated authorities.

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