West Bengal Governor Sends Controversial Aparajita Bill to President for Consideration

West Bengal Governor CV Anand Bose has sent the Aparajita Woman and Child Bill, 2024 (Anti-Rape Bill)passed by the Assembly to President Draupadi Murmu for consideration. Governor CV Anand Bose was handed over the technical report of the bill by Chief Secretary Manoj Pant during the day, the Governor sent the bill to Murmu after reading it.

Governor CV Anand Bose has given it a go-ahead after receiving the mandatory technical report from the state government. However, he pointed out serious flaws and flaws in the bill and targeted the state government. In a statement posted on ‘X’, the Raj Bhavan has expressed its displeasure over the failure of the Assembly Secretariat to provide the text of the debate and its translation as per the rules. The statement said that after a heated debate, mutual allegations and counter-allegations, political threats and ultimatums, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had threatened to sit on a dharna outside the Raj Bhavan if the bill was not approved by the Governor.

The statement said that the Governor expressed displeasure over the Chief Minister's threatening attitude and reprimanded the government for failing to follow legal and constitutional decorum. Earlier on Thursday, the governor accused the Mamata government of failing to send a technical report along with a copy of the bill proposing death penalty for rapists.

According to a Raj Bhavan statement, the governor pointed out flaws in the hastily passed bill. The statement said that the governor warned the government not to act in haste and repent at ease. Bose stressed that people want justice for the trainee woman doctor. He said that the state government should work effectively.

The governor said that people cannot wait till the bill is implemented. They want justice and they should get justice within the ambit of the existing law. The government should work effectively. It is the duty of the government to wipe the tears of the grieving mother who has lost her beloved daughter. The governor pointed out flaws in the bill and advised the government to do its homework instead of giving a thoughtless answer.

Let us tell you that on September 3, the West Bengal Assembly unanimously passed the 'Aparajita Women and Child Bill (West Bengal Criminal Law and Amendment) 2024', which provides for the death penalty for rape convicts.

Also, for other criminals, provision has been made for life imprisonment without parole. According to the Aparajita Bill, the guilty will be given the harshest punishment in cases of harassment and rape of women. The provisions of the POCSO Act have been further tightened. If the victim dies or suffers severe brain damage as a result of the acts of the rapists, then a provision for death penalty has been made for the rapist.

Under the bill, Aparajita Task Force will be constituted, in which punishment will be given within 21 days of the preliminary report. Routes of movement of nurses and female doctors will be covered. For this, the state government has sanctioned Rs 120 crore. CCTV cameras will be installed everywhere. Provision of 'Ratri Sathi' has also been made, under which women will do 12 hours of duty and doctors will extend their duty if needed. Women working at night will be given complete security.