Andhra Pradesh Assembly unanimously passed the Andhra Pradesh Disha Bill 2019 (A.P. Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2019) paving the way for awarding the death penalty for the offenses of rape and gang-rape and expediting the verdict in trials of such cases to 21 days. The Opposition also unanimously supported the bill.
According to the new law, the verdict will be out within 21 days when there is evidence of guilt. The investigation will be completed within 14 days. The bill was drafted to reduce the existing 4-month trial period to 21 days. Special courts will be set up in each district for offenses such as rape of women and children, gang rape, acid attacks, harassment, and sexual assault.
However, on the same day, after the bill is passed in the state Assembly, a rape was reported in Guntur. An intermediate student, Lakshman Reddy reported raped a girl in Ramireddy Nagar. We are told that the accused is in the custody of the Nagarapalem Police. The girl is taken to Guntur Government Hospital.
It has to be seen if the Disha bill will be able to arrest the rape menace and make Andhra Pradesh a safe place for women.
