Those convicted under the POCSO Act should be deprived of their right to mercy petition – Ram Nath Kovind , President

Expressing anguish over recent attacks on women , President Ram Nath Kovind has advocated that those convicted under the POCSO Act should be deprived of their right to mercy petition.

“Incidents of demonic assaults on daughters shake the conscience of the country. It is the duty of every parent, citizens, yours and mine to strengthen among boys the sense of respect towards women.

“In this context, several things are coming up. Such convicts have been given the right of mercy petition by the Constitution. I have said that there should be reconsideration on this…. In cases under POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act, they be deprived of the right of mercy petition. They do not need any such right,” he said.

It is for the Parliament to take a decision on the matter and make necessary constitutional amendments, “but the thought of all of us is moving ahead in that direction”, he said while addressing an event in Rajasthan’s Abu Road on the issue of women safety.

The president said women safety is a very serious issue and a lot of work has been done on this but much remains to be done.