President of India Ram Nath Kovind on Friday stated that the provision allowing those convicted of rape under the POCSO Act to file mercy pleas should be reconsidered. The President made the remarks while addressing the National Convention on Empowerment of Women for Social Transformation at Sirohi in Rajasthan. 

“Incidents of demonic attacks on women have shaken the conscience of the country. Convicts of crimes against women are given a provision under the Constitution of India where they can file mercy pleas. And I have said that this should be reconsidered. Those accused in rape cases under POCSO Act should not be given mercy pleas. They should not be given any such right. All this depends on the Parliament, that a law or amendment be brought,” the President said. 

Meanwhile, reports stated that the mercy plea of the accused in the 2012 Nirbhaya gangrape case has been sent to the President. The Ministry of Home Affairs sent the recommendation of the Delhi government rejecting the mercy plea of one of the convicts in Nirbhaya case to the President on Friday afternoon. 

The President’s remark comes on the day when all the four accused in the Hyderabad veterinarian gangrape and murder case were killed in a reported encounter by the police early on Friday morning. The police stated that the accused, Areef, Shiva, Naveen and Chennakesavulu, were taken to the scene of the crime for a reconstruction of the crime when they attempted to escape. Two policemen were also injured in the incident, the police added. 

The reported encounter has sparked a big debate — while many have called the police action as justice to the victim, others have condemned the action, stating that the judicial process should have been followed. 

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken cognisance of the killing of the four accused and ordered an inquiry into the police encounter. The human rights body has called the encounter a matter of concern.

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