A bill to amend criminal law to ensure tougher punishment for rapists will be placed before the Cabinet for its approval today. Talking to reporters in New Delhi yesterday, Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said, the Bill will replace the ordinance that had been promulgated by the government last month with this objective in mind. The Bill was placed before the Cabinet last week but had to be deferred. Mr. Shinde said there were no differences on the provisions in the new Bill.

The Bill introduces death penalty for rapists in cases where the victim dies as a result of rape or is left in a persistent vegetative state. Gangrape is to be punished by 20 years in prison, extendable up to life in prison. Similar punishment is provided for repeat offenders as well.

Last week, there was a difference of opinion within the Cabinet on whether the word 'rape' should be substituted with 'sexual assault' as had been done in the ordinance, and whether the age of consent for sex be reduced from the present 18 to 16 years.

The present Bill makes it mandatory to videograph the statement of the victim. The Bill will also make it mandatory for all government and private hospitals in the country to provide free medical treatment to women victims of any form of sexual violence.