By IANS,
New Delhi : Parliament Thursday passed the anti-rape bill which keeps the age for consensual sex at 18 years and makes voyeurism and stalking punishable offences, with the Rajya Sabha giving its nod to the legislation.
The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2013, approved by the Lok Sabha Tuesday, was moved in the Rajya Sabha earlier Thursday by Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde.
A resolution moved by Communist Party of India leader D. Raja, disapproving the Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance which the bill seeks to replace, was rejected by the house.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was also present in the house when the bill was voted.
The anti-rape bill will replace the ordinance promulgated by President Pranab Mukherjee Feb 3. The legislation had to be passed by parliament before April 4, when it would have lapsed.
The issue has been in focus after the gang-rape of a 23-year-old woman in Delhi Dec 16 last year. She died of grievous injuries 13 days later.