Capt Ajay Yadav advocates death penalty in henious crimes

by Haryananewswire

CHANDIGARH, JAN 5

 Haryana Forests Minister, Capt. Ajay Singh Yadav today said that he would favour death penalty for the accused involved in cases of heinous crimes against women as was the case of a gang rape in Delhi in which the victim lost his life recently.

            The Minister was replying to the questions of media persons, here today, shortly after releasing the logo of the 5-day 20^th All India Forest Sports Meet to be hosted by Haryana Forests Department at Tau Devi Lal Stadium, Panchkula from February 8, 2013.

            He said that he also supported the proposal  to amend the Juvenile Justice Act to bring down the age limit for juvenile offenders from 18 to 16 years to effectively deal with growing cases of sexual assaults against women.

            It may be recalled that a debate is already going on to lower this age for conviction for sexual assault, as adults, while deciding the quantum of punishment to be awarded.

            The Minister said that debate was going on how to tackle the crime of sexual assault against the women in an effective manner and the Union Home Minister too had a meeting with Chief Secretaries and Director Generals of Police the other day. The punishment in such cases should be stringent, he added.

            He said that in cases of heinous crimes as was the recent case of gang rape in Delhi in which the victim died, the accused should be hanged till death and  in other such cases there should be atleast life imprisonment. The instances of rape should be condemned by all right thinking persons. He added that such cases should also be tried in fast track courts so that  the guilty is punished at the earliest possible.

            When asked whether the accused involved  in cases of sexual assault against women be socially boycotted,  he replied in affirmative adding that it would convey a good message to the society. When his attention was drawn towards an Act being proposed by the Central Government to check cases of rape, he said that Haryana too would follow that decision of the Government of India.

            In reply to a question that whether the Haryana Government has any proposal to merge the Departments of Forests and Environment, Capt. Yadav, who holds the charge of both Departments denied any such proposal of the State Government.

            He said that 466 Forests Guards would be recruited as these posts had been lying vacant. The State has a total of 1642 sanctioned posts of Forest Guards, he added.

            The Minister, who also holds the charge of Power Department, said that while the Linemen were being posted on regular basis, efforts would be made to adjust those who were already working on contract basis in the power utilities.