Act No. 22 of 2018 strengthened punishment and procedure relating to rape and gang rape by amending the Indian Penal Code, 1860, Indian Evidence Act, 1872, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. This page also explains its relevance under the criminal-law framework now in force.
The Act responded to serious sexual offences by increasing minimum punishment for rape, creating enhanced punishments for rape and gang rape involving girls below specified ages, tightening investigation and appeal timelines, and making related changes to bail, victim participation, evidence and POCSO provisions.
The BNS now contains the central penal provisions on rape and related sexual offences. Sections 63-71 cover the definition of rape, punishment, aggravated circumstances, sexual intercourse in specified situations, gang rape and repeat offenders.
BNS section 70 provides the present gang-rape provisions, including enhanced punishment where the victim is under eighteen years of age.
Investigation, statements, trial, bail and appellate procedure are now governed principally by the BNSS for matters to which it applies, subject to its saving provisions.
The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 continues as a special statute for sexual offences against children and must be considered alongside the current general criminal law.
[11th August, 2018.]
An Act further to amend the Indian Penal Code, Indian Evidence Act, 1872, the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.
BE it enacted by Parliament in the Sixty-ninth Year of the Republic of India as follows:-
1. (1) This Act may be called the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018.
(2) It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 21st day of April, 2018.
2. In the Indian Penal Code (hereafter in this Chapter referred to as the Penal Code), in section 166A, in clause (c), for the words, figures and letters "section 376B, section 376C, section 376D", the words, figures and letters "section 376AB, section 376B, section 376C, section 376D, section 376DA, section 376DB" shall be substituted.
3. In section 228A of the Penal Code, in sub-section (1), for the words, figures and letters "section 376A, section 376B, section 376C, section 376D", the words, figures and letters "section 376A, section 376AB, section 376B, section 376C, section 376D, section 376DA, section 376DB" shall be substituted.
4. In section 376 of the Penal Code,-
(a) in sub-section (1), for the words "shall not be less than seven years, but
which may extend to imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine",
the words "shall not be less than ten years, but which may extend to
imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine" shall be substituted;
(b) in sub-section (2), clause (i) shall be omitted;
(c) after sub-section (2), the following sub-section shall be inserted, namely:-
"(3) Whoever, commits rape on a woman under sixteen years of age shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than twenty years, but which may extend to imprisonment for life, which shall mean imprisonment for the remainder of that person's natural life, and shall also be liable to fine:
Provided that such fine shall be just and reasonable to meet the medical expenses and rehabilitation of the victim:
Provided further that any fine imposed under this sub-section shall be paid to the victim.".
5. After section 376A of the Penal Code, the following section shall be inserted, namely:-
"376AB. Whoever, commits rape on a woman under twelve years of age shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than twenty years, but which may extend to imprisonment for life, which shall mean imprisonment for the remainder of that person's natural life, and with fine or with death:
Provided that such fine shall be just and reasonable to meet the medical expenses and rehabilitation of the victim:
Provided further that any fine imposed under this section shall be paid to the victim.".
"376DA. Where a woman under sixteen years of age is raped by one or more persons constituting a group or acting in furtherance of a common intention, each of those persons shall be deemed to have committed the offence of rape and shall be punished with imprisonment for life, which shall mean imprisonment for the remainder of that person's natural life, and with fine:
Provided that such fine shall be just and reasonable to meet the medical expenses and rehabilitation of the victim:
Provided further that any fine imposed under this section shall be paid to the victim.
376DB. Where a woman under twelve years of age is raped by one or more persons constituting a group or acting in furtherance of a common intention, each of those persons shall be deemed to have committed the offence of rape and shall be punished with imprisonment for life, which shall mean imprisonment for the remainder of that person's natural life, and with fine, or with death:
Provided that such fine shall be just and reasonable to meet the medical expenses and rehabilitation of the victim:
Provided further that any fine imposed under this section shall be paid to the victim.".
7. In section 376E of the Penal Code, for the word, figures and letter "section 376D", the words, figures and letters "section 376AB or section 376D or section 376DA or section 376DB," shall be substituted.
8. In section 53A of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (hereafter in this Chapter referred to as the Evidence Act), for the words, figures and letters "section 376A, section 376B, section 376C, section 376D", the words, figures and letters "section 376A, section 376AB, section 376B, section 376C, section 376D, section 376DA, section 376DB" shall be substituted.
9. In section 146 of the Evidence Act, in the proviso, for the words, figures and letters "section 376A, section 376B, section 376C, section 376D", the words, figures and letters "section 376A, section 376AB, section 376B, section 376C, section 376D, section 376DA, section 376DB" shall be substituted.
Amendment of section 26
10. In the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (hereafter in this Chapter referred to as the Code of Criminal Procedure), in section 26, in clause (a), in the proviso, for the words, figures and letters "section 376A, section 376B, section 376C, section 376D", the words, figures and letters "section 376A, section 376AB, section 376B, section 376C, section 376D, section 376DA, section 376DB" shall be substituted
Amendment of section 154
11. In section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, in sub-section (1),-
(i) in the first proviso, for the words, figures and letters "section 376A, section 376B, section 376C, section 376D", the words, figures and letters "section 376A, section 376AB, section 376B, section 376C, section 376D, section 376DA, section 376DB," shall be substituted;
(ii) in the second proviso, in clause (a), for the words, figures and letters "section 376A, section 376B, section 376C, section 376D", the words, figures and letters "section 376A, section 376AB, section 376B, section 376C, section 376D, section 376DA, section 376DB," shall be substituted.
Amendment of section 161
12. In section 161 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, in sub-section (3), in the second proviso, for the words, figures and letters "section 376A, section 376B, section 376C, section 376D", the words, figures and letters "section 376A, section 376AB, section 376B, section 376C, section 376D, section 376DA, section 376DB" shall be substituted.
Amendment of section 164
13. In section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, in sub-section (5A), in clause (a), for the words, figures and letters "section 376A, section 376B, section 376C, section 376D", the words, figures and letters "section 376A, section 376AB, section 376B, section 376C, section 376D, section 376DA, section 376DB" shall be substituted.
Amendment of section 173
14. In section 173 of the Code of Criminal Procedure,-
(i) in sub-section (1A), for the words "rape of a child may be completed within
three months", the words, figures and letters "an offence under sections 376,
376A, 376AB, 376B, 376C, 376D, 376DA, 376DB or 376E of the Indian Penal Code
shall be completed within two months" shall be substituted;
(ii) in sub-section (2), in clause (i), in sub-clause (h), for the word, figures and letters "section 376, 376A, 376B, 376C, 376D", the word, figures and letters "sections 376, 376A, 376AB, 376B, 376C, 376D, 376DA, 376DB" shall be substituted.
Amendment of section 197
15. In section 197 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, in sub-section (1), in the Explanation, for the words, figures and letters "section 376A, section 376C, section 376D", the words, figures and letters "section 376A, section 376AB, section 376C, section 376D, section 376DA, section 376DB" shall be substituted.
Amendment of section 309
16. In section 309 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, in sub-section (1), in the proviso, for the words, figures and letters "section 376A, section 376B, section 376C or section 376D of the Indian Penal Code, the inquiry or trial shall, as far as possible,", the words, figures and letters "section 376A, section 376AB, section 376B, section 376C, section 376D, section 376DA or section 376DB of the Indian Penal Code, the inquiry or trial shall" shall be substituted.
Amendment of section 327
17. In section 327 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, in sub-section (2), for the words, figures and letters "section 376A, section 376B, section 376C, section 376D", the words, figures and letters "section 376A, section 376AB, section 376B, section 376C, section 376D, section 376DA, section 376DB" shall be substituted
Amendment of section 357B
18. In section 357B of the Code of Criminal Procedure, for the words, figures and letters "under section 326A or section 376D of the Indian Penal Code", the words, figures and letters "under section 326A, section 376AB, section 376D, section 376DA and section 376DB of the Indian Penal Code" shall be substituted.
Amendment of section 357C
19. In section 357C of the Code of Criminal Procedure, for the figures and letters "376A, 376B, 376C, 376D", the figures and letters "376A, 376AB, 376B, 376C, 376D, 376DA, 376DB" shall be substituted.
Amendment of section 374
20. In section 374 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, after sub-section (3), the following sub-section shall be inserted, namely:-
"(4) When an appeal has been filed against a sentence passed under section 376, section 376A, section 376AB, section 376B, section 376C, section 376D, section 376DA, section 376DB or section 376E of the Indian Penal Code, the appeal shall be disposed of within a period of six months from the date of filing of such appeal."
Amendment of section 377
21. In section 377 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, after sub-section (3), the following sub-section shall be inserted, namely:-
"(4) When an appeal has been filed against a sentence passed under section 376, section 376A, section 376AB, section 376B, section 376C, section 376D, section 376DA, section 376DB or section 376E of the Indian Penal Code, the appeal shall be disposed of within a period of six months from the date of filing of such appeal."
Amendment of section 438
22. In section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, after sub-section (3), the following sub-section shall be inserted, namely:- "(4) Nothing in this section shall apply to any case involving the arrest of any person on accusation of having committed an offence under sub-section (3) of section 376 or section 376AB or section 376DA or section 376DB of the Indian Penal Code."
Amendment of section 439
23. In section 439 of the Code of Criminal Procedure,- (a) in sub-section (1), after the first proviso, the following proviso shall be inserted, namely: - "Provided further that the High Court or the Court of Session shall, before granting bail to a person who is accused of an offence triable under sub-section (3) of section 376 or section 376AB or section 376DA or section 376DB of the Indian Penal Code, give notice of the application for bail to the Public Prosecutor within a period of fifteen days from the date of receipt of the notice of such application."; (b) after sub-section (1), the following sub-section shall be inserted, namely:- "(1A) The presence of the informant or any person authorised by him shall be obligatory at the time of hearing of the application for bail to the person under sub-section (3) of section 376 or section 376AB or section 376DA or section 376DB of the Indian Penal Code."
Amendment of First Schedule
In the First Schedule to the Code of Criminal Procedure, under the heading "I.- OFFENCES UNDER THE INDIAN PENAL CODE", -
No. It remains legally and historically relevant to the amendments it made and to cases governed by the earlier statutory regime, subject to repeal and saving provisions. For current offences after the new criminal laws commenced, the BNS, BNSS and BSA framework must be checked.
The principal central penal provisions are now in BNS sections 63 to 71, including section 64 on punishment for rape and section 70 on gang rape.
Yes. POCSO continues as a special law and contains its own offences, punishments, procedures and interaction provisions.