Rape to replace sexual assault in Bill

However,in the recent ordinance that the government has promulgated,the word rape has been substituted by the phrase sexual assault in all the relevant provisions. The phrase sexual assault widens the offence and brings in gender neutrality,thereby helping in applying the same provisions for child abuse as well,irrespective of the gender of the victim.

However,the new draft Criminal Law Amendment Bill,that will replace the ordinance,has gone back to using the word rape,sources said. The draft Bill is likely to be placed before the Cabinet on Thursday.

Interestingly,the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs,which was examining a previous version of these amendments put before Parliament last year,had backed the use of the phrase sexual assault instead of rape.

The new Bill is also learnt to have provided for lowering the age of consensual sex from 18 years to 16 years. This again is in accordance of the suggestion of the Verma Committee. Both,last years draft amendments and this years ordinance,have kept the age of consent at 18 years.