The Andhra Pradesh (AP) state Cabinet chaired by chief minister (CM), Yeduguri Sandinti (YS) Jagan Mohan Reddy, has approved the P. Disha Bill, 2019that makes it mandatory to settle cases of atrocities against women in 21 days and punishment including a death penalty for the offences of rape and gang-rape. The new bill, the Andhra Pradesh Criminal Law (amendment) Act, 2019, called as P Disha Act, 2019. Key Points: The amended law mandates the completion of investigation in 7 days and subsequent court trial in the next 14 daysso that the sentence can be given within 21 days. The current law gives 4 months to go to trial in such cases. New Provision: The bill amended provisions in the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860, and the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, and Sections 354-E and 354-F in the IPC have also been created to deal with harassment of women via social media, digital mode & molestation / sexual assault of children respectively.
