The Union Cabinet on Dec 28, 2018 approved amendments to strengthen the POSCO Act and included death penalty for aggravated sexual assault on children, besides providing stringent punishments for other crimes against those aged below 18. The Protection of Children from sexual offences (Amendment) Bill, POSCO, 2019 was passed by Parliament on Aug 1, 2019. It seeks to enhance punishment for sexual offences against children, with a provision of death penalty.
Sections 14 and 15 of the POCSO Act, 2012 are also proposed to be amended to address the menace of the child pornography. It is proposed to levy fine for not destroying or deleting or reporting the pornographic material involving a child, the statement said. The offender can be further penalized with jail term or fine or both for transmitting propagating administrating such material in any manner except for the purpose of reporting as may be prescribed and for use as evidence in court. “Penal provisions have been made more stringent for storing/possessing any pornographic material in any form involving a child for commercial purpose,” the official statement said.
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