Do Away With Mercy Plea for Rape Convicts Under POCSO: Prez Kovind
The comment comes in the backdrop of all 4 accused in the Hyderabad rape and murder case being killed in encounter.
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(Correction: An earlier version of this article did not mention that the President's comments were made in the context of cases under the POCSO Act only.)
President of India Ram Nath Kovind while speaking at an event on Friday, 6 December, said rape convicts under POCSO Act should not have right to file mercy petition.
He was speaking at an event at the headquarters of the Brahma Kumaris in Rajasthan’s Sirohi, reported news agency PTI.
“It is for the Parliament to take a decision on the matter and make necessary constitutional amendments, but now we are all thinking along the same lines," he said while addressing at the event.
"Incidents of demonic assaults on daughters shake the conscience of the country. It is the duty of every parent, citizens, yours and mine to strengthen among boys the sense of respect towards women.
"In this context, several things are coming up. Such convicts have been given the right of mercy petition by the Constitution. I have said that there should be reconsideration on this.... In cases under POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act, they be deprived of the right of mercy petition. They do not need any such right," he said, according to PTI.
The president's remarks came at a time the country witnessed several cases of brutal attacks on women.
President Kovind stressed that a society based on equality and harmony could only be possible by empowering women.
The comment comes in the backdrop of all four accused in the Hyderabad rape and murder case being killed in an encounter on Friday morning.
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