(a) whether cases of sexual abuse of children are on the rise in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the total number of such cases reported and guilty arrested and the action taken against them during each of the last three years and the current year, State-wise; and
(c) whether the Government has any proposal to increase the punishment for such convicts and if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI HARIBHAI PARATHIBHAI CHAUDHARY)
(a) & (b): As per information provided by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), a total of 8,541, 12,363 and 13,766 cases of rape (section 376 IPC) of children (below 18 years) were reported in the country during 2012, 2013 and 2014 respectively, showing a rising trend. Furthermore, a total of 8,904 cases were registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 during 2014. State/UT wise cases registered, cases charge sheeted, cases convicted, persons arrested persons charge sheeted and persons convicted under rape of children and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 during 2012-2014 is enclosed at Annexure – I and Annexure – II respectively. Furthermore, as per provisional Monthly Crime Statistics, State/UT wise cases registered under rape and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 under crime against children during 2015 is enclosed at Annexure – III.
(c): The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2013, which has come into force since 3rd Feb, 2013 on crimes against women, has enhanced punishment for crimes like rape, sexual harassment, stalking, voyeurism, acid attacks, indecent gestures like words and inappropriate touch etc.
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LS.U.S.Q.No.1585 FOR 08.12.2015
The new law has provisions for increased sentence for rape convicts, including life-term and death sentence, besides providing for stringent punishment for offences such as acid attacks, stalking and voyeurism
As per the seventh schedule to the Constitution of India `Police` and `Public Order` are State subjects and, as such, the primary responsibility of prevention, detection, registration, investigation and prosecution of crime, lies with the State Governments/ Union Territory Administrations. Ministry of Home Affairs has issued an advisory dated 14th July, 2010 on crime against children which is available at
http://www.mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/pdf/AdvCrime-children-280710.pdf
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