The Group of Ministers-GoM have cleared the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill aiming at stringent punishment for sexual offences against women. It has recommended lowering of age of consent for sex from 18 years to 16 years where as stalking and voyeurism have been recommended to be made non-bailable offences.

The GoM today held second round of meeting to evolve consensus on certain provisions in the bill. The Union Cabinet had referred the Bill yesterday to the GoM headed by the Finance Minister P. Chidambaram. Talking to reporters in New Delhi after the GoM meeting, the Communication and IT Minister Kapil Sibal that the Group of Ministers have reached consensus over the bill. He said the bill will be discussed in the special Cabinet meeting on Thursday.