Chennai, Jan 10 (Reporter) Chief Minister M K Stalin on Friday introduced the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women (Amendment) Bill that provides stringent punishment, including life term and hefty fines, for crimes against women, including sexual assault and harassment. Mr Stalin tabled two bills to amend the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act 1988, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023 that provides stringent punishment. Pursuant to the State's unwavering commitment to ensure safety to its citizens, particularly women and children, and to ensure the heinous acts of rape and sexual offenses against women and children are met with the full force of the law, the Chief Minister said. It has become necessary to provide deterrent punishment for perpetrators of atrocities against women and children. Hence, the state government firmly believes in enhancing the quantum of punishments for the offences committed against women and children in BNS 2023 and also amending certain provisions relating to bail in BNSS 2023,” he said. The Bill was tabled in the backdrop of the alleged sexual assault of a girl student at the state-run Anna University recently, that sparked a public outrage and condemnation from various political parties, women's and student's organisations. Moving the Bill, Mr Stalin said imposing stringent punishment will “certainly deter such deplorable acts” and ensure that the perpetrators face exemplary and severe consequences for their crimes, . For harassment including via digital and electronic mode, the Bill enhanced the penalty from the earlier three year jail team and Rs 10,000 fine to five 5 years and and Rs one lakh fine for the first conviction and for subsequent conviction, the jail term would be extended up to 10 years with a fine of Rs 10 lakhs. For causing death due to harassment with intention, the accused would now serve imprisonment for life along with a fine of Rs two lakh. Earlier, it was life term and fine of Rs 50,000. For causing death without intention it would be 15 years jail term and Rs two lakh from the earlier 10 years imprisonment and Rs 50,000 fine. For causing death due to Negligent, the jail term was increased from the present 10 years to life imprisonment and fine hiked from Rs 5,000 to 15 years and Rs one lakh fine. The Bill also made it mandatory on the part of the management to install CCTV cameras and also fixed a 24 hr time line to register the complaint...////...