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By Our Reporter 

The new ordinance on rape cases has a specific provision of extending a jail term by six months to three years for people involved in mediating rape cases.

A meeting of the Council of Ministers on Sunday decided to issue an ordinance on rape cases with stringent punishment provisions to the rapist and the people involved in mediation while settling the cases in the local levels.

The ordinance was forwarded at the office of President for its certification following the Cabinet meeting.

The new law makes people involved in the community settlement of rape cases liable to face criminal charges as well.

Meanwhile, Minister of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Dr Shivamaya Tumbahangphe said that the ordinance was brought as the victims of violence need speedy justice by immediately reviewing the law.

Recently, it was alleged that a compromise was reached with the involvement of the people’s representatives. The ordinance provides for an additional six months’ imprisonment if a person holding a public office has reached a compromise.

A person holding a public office can be sentenced to three and a half years in prison. The bill regarding this ordinance defines the act of pressuring, influencing, obstructing the process of complaint etc. with or without financial transactions for reconciliation as an offence.

The ordinance has increased the provision of punishment according to the age of the victims. In case the rape victims age 16 years, the culprit will be imprisoned for 12 to 16 years. Earlier, the offender used to be sent jail for 12 to 14 years.

Similarly, if the victim is aged 16 and 18 years, the culprit will face 12 to 14 years’ jail sentence.

Likewise, both the minimum and maximum punishment for those who rape persons above 18 years of age has also been increased.

Similarly, some terms of the Criminal Code have been amended. Instead of the term woman or girl, ‘person’ will be used.