Following the footsteps of the neighbouring BJP government in Rajasthan, the Haryana Assembly on Thursday passed the Bill advocating capital punishment for rape of children below 12 years of age. Earlier last week, Rajasthan became the second state after Madhya Pradesh to pass a bill with similar provisions. Maharashtra and Karnataka are also considering the death penalty for child rapists. Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had earlier said that the state would enact a law providing capital punishment to those found guilty of sexually abusing girls aged 12 years or below. Besides, the state government would make a request for setting up fast-track courts for dealing with rape cases to ensure speedy justice to victims.
Expressing anguish and concern over the incidents of rape in the state, Khattar had in January said though the police were dealing with such cases as required under the law, it had been decided to make provisions of “harsher punishment for rape”. “Law would be enacted soon to hang those convicted of raping girls aged 12 or younger,” he said.

Following the footsteps of the neighbouring BJP government in Rajasthan, the Haryana Assembly on Thursday passed the Bill advocating capital punishment for rape of children below 12 years of age. Earlier last week, Rajasthan became the second state after Madhya Pradesh to pass a bill with similar provisions. Maharashtra and Karnataka are also considering the death penalty for child rapists. Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had earlier said that the state would enact a law providing capital punishment to those found guilty of sexually abusing girls aged 12 years or below. Besides, the state government would make a request for setting up fast-track courts for dealing with rape cases to ensure speedy justice to victims.
Expressing anguish and concern over the incidents of rape in the state, Khattar had in January said though the police were dealing with such cases as required under the law, it had been decided to make provisions of “harsher punishment for rape”. “Law would be enacted soon to hang those convicted of raping girls aged 12 or younger,” he said.