Tackling crimes against children, women prioritised under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita: MoS

“Punishment for gangrape of a woman below the age of 18 years is life imprisonment till the remainder of the convict’s natural life or death. A new offence for having sexual intercourse on false promise of marriage, employment, promotion or by concealing identity, etc has also been incorporated in BNS,” Kumar said.

Garhwal MP Baluni had asked if tackling crimes against women and children has received priority in the new criminal laws, which have replaced the British-era Indian Penal Code.

Kumar said, “In the BNS, 2023, for the first time, provisions relating to crimes against women and children have been given precedence and placed under one chapter. The government is committed to preventing human trafficking. Section 143 of the BNS provides provisions for strict punishment up to life imprisonment for offence of human trafficking,” it said, adding that when the offence involves the trafficking of a child, it shall be punished with imprisonment not less than 10 years but which may extend to imprisonment for life.

“It noted that beggary has been introduced as a form of exploitation for trafficking and is punishable under Section 143 of BNS. In addition, Section 144 (1) of the BNS provides for strict punishment for the offence of sexual exploitation of trafficked children,” Kumar said, adding the minimum punishment for such offences is five years, extendable up to life imprisonment.