Sat Jan 11 06:29:24 UTC 2025: ## Tamil Nadu to Stiffen Penalties for Crimes Against Women
**Chennai, January 11, 2025** – The Tamil Nadu Assembly saw the introduction of an amendment bill on Friday, January 10, 2025, aimed at significantly increasing penalties for crimes against women. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin presented the bill, which will amend the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act, 1998.
The key changes include the addition of Section 7C, allowing for the issuance of “protection orders” to prevent accused individuals from contacting victims. This encompasses all forms of communication, including digital and electronic means, upon request from the aggrieved party.
The amendment was spurred by the alleged sexual assault of a 19-year-old student at Anna University in Chennai in December 2024. The proposed legislation will also dramatically increase penalties for offences under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. These increases range from raising minimum prison sentences by several years to introducing life imprisonment or even the death penalty for certain crimes. Specific examples of the increased penalties are detailed in the original text.
The bill is expected to be considered further on January 11, 2025. The Chief Minister emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring stricter punishments for those who commit crimes against women.
First Piper 