Forum of Legal Professionals on Tuesday opposed the ordinance on death penalty to be imposed on persons who commit rape on girls below 12 years.
Forum president Kuppili Muralidhar said death penalty no longer served as deterrent to the offenders. Punishment must be a deterrent factor and must be 20-year jail term for a rape convict. Trial and investigation must be completed within 90 days of the filing of charge-sheet, he said.
According to the latest release of National Crime Records Bureau, in New Delhi 95% of accused in rape cases were relatives and friends and family members of the victims and so the victims would be coerced and forced to depose against them in the courts fearing death penalty. Hence, the offender would be let off scot-free.
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The legislations must be aimed at certainty of punishment but not stringency alone would reduce the crime rate, he opined. Steps must be taken to protect the women victims and victim protection scheme must be implemented and formulated in right earnest.