<p>The law is to be amended to provide for a minimum of seven years in jail for sexual assault, which may extend to life imprisonment, the government said Tuesday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Minister of State for Home Affairs R.P.N. Singh said the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2012, had been introduced in parliament.<br /><br />There would be an additional fine for aggravated sexual assault by a police officer or a public servant who takes advantage of his position of authority, the minister told the Lok Sabha.<br /><br />"The punishment (for aggravated sexual assault) will be rigorous imprisonment which shall not be less than 10 years, which may extend to life imprisonment," he said.<br /><br />Singh added that the word 'rape' would be replaced by 'sexual assault' in the legislation to make the offence gender neutral and for widening the scope of the offence.<br /></p>
<p>The law is to be amended to provide for a minimum of seven years in jail for sexual assault, which may extend to life imprisonment, the government said Tuesday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Minister of State for Home Affairs R.P.N. Singh said the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2012, had been introduced in parliament.<br /><br />There would be an additional fine for aggravated sexual assault by a police officer or a public servant who takes advantage of his position of authority, the minister told the Lok Sabha.<br /><br />"The punishment (for aggravated sexual assault) will be rigorous imprisonment which shall not be less than 10 years, which may extend to life imprisonment," he said.<br /><br />Singh added that the word 'rape' would be replaced by 'sexual assault' in the legislation to make the offence gender neutral and for widening the scope of the offence.<br /></p>