President Pranab Mukherjee today promulgated an ordinance on sexual violence against women under which rape leading to death of the victim can attract capital punishment.

A Home Ministry spokesman said Mr Mukherjee gave his assent today for amending the criminal law to effectively check crimes against women.

On Friday the Union Cabinet recommended to the President to issue the ordinance providing for trial for death penalty if the rape victim dies and of imprisonment up to 20 years for rape.

The Cabinet recommendations were based mostly on the recommendations of the Justice Verma Committee.

The committee, set up by the government in the wake of December 16 Delhi gang rape case, submitted its report suggested ways to deal with crime against women.

The panel had recommended enhanced punishment of imprisonment up to 20 years for rape and life term for gang rape and murder.

It had also suggested that crimes like stalking, disrobing a woman and voyeurism be treated as new offences with stringent punishment.

It had also recommended broadening the definition of rape. The ordinance proposes to replace the word rape with sexual assault to expand the definition of all types sexual crimes against women.

It also entails changes in the criminal law by amending Indian Penal Code, IPC, Code of Criminal Procedure, CrPC and the Evidence Act.

The Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh had assured that the government will take speedy action to implement the recommendations of the report.