Question Discussion & Solution

The correct answer is a Punishment of ten years and a fine.

Important Points

• Section 367 of IPC:
  • ​Whoever kidnaps or abducts any person in order that such person may be subjected, or be so disposed of as to be put in danger of being subjected to grievous hurt, or slavery, or to unnatural lust of any person, or knowing it to be likely that such person will be so subjected or disposed of, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
  • It is a cognizable offence, Non-bailable which is triable by the court of session.

A 2007 survey by the Ministry of Women and Child Development showed that 53% of children in India had been sexually abused. 

Important Points The Protection of Children against Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) was passed by both houses of Parliament on May 22, 2012.  

• It came into effect on Children’s Day, November 14, 2012.
• Salient Feature of POCSO- 
  • It is gender-neutral.
  • It makes the reporting of abuse mandatory.
  • It makes the recording of sexual abuse mandatory.
  • It lists all known types of sexual offences towards minors.
  • It provides for the protection of minors during the judicial process.

From the above, it is clear that the Protection of Children against Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) came into effect on Children’s Day, November 14, 2012.

• The term Domestic Violence was clearly defined for the first time in India in 2005 with the enactment of Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005.
• Until then domestic violence was seen only in terms of physical between spouses.
• But, this act has given a much wider explanation of this term.
•  As per section 3, domestic violence includes: 
  • Physical abuse/torture.
  • Mental abuses.
  • Verbal abuses.
  • Sexual abuses.
  • Economical abuses.

The correct answer is 20th September 1994.

• Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act was enacted on 20th September 1994.

Key Points

• Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994:
  • An Act to provide for the prohibition of sex selection, before or after conception, and for the regulation of prenatal diagnostic techniques for the purposes of detecting genetic abnormalities or metabolic disorders or chromosomal abnormalities or certain congenital malformations or sex-linked disorders and for the prevention of their misuse for sex determination leading to female foeticide; and, for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. ​

Additional Information

• Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994 is an Act of the Parliament of India enacted to stop female foeticides and arrest the declining sex ratio in India.
  • The act banned prenatal sex determination.
  • Every genetic counselling centre, genetic laboratory or genetic clinic engaged in counselling or conducting pre-natal diagnostics techniques, like in vitro fertilisation (IVF) with the potential of sex selection (Preimplantation genetic diagnosis) before and after conception comes under the preview of the PCPNDT Act and are banned.

The correct answer is Sections 2 (b).

• Generally in any law starting chapter contains the definition clause and in most of the small act or specialised laws, it is section 2 which contains definitions of the terms. However, this is not uniform for all the laws.
• The term child marriage is defined under section 2 (b) of The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006.

Key Points

• Any marriage where either Bride or groom is below the permissible age is called child marriage.
• The permissible age for marriage of a girl is minimum 18 years and that for a boy is a minimum of 21 years.