Mamata Banerjee Government to Introduce Strict Anti-Rape Bill Amid Protests in West Bengal
Draft Law Proposes Death Penalty and Life Imprisonment for Rape Convicts, Aims to Strengthen Protection for Women and Children
The Mamata Banerjee government is currently facing protests from the people in Bengal. There is a lot of anger among the people against the government regarding the Kolakata rape-murder case. Amidst all this, the Mamata government is going to introduce a draft anti-rape bill in the West Bengal Assembly on Tuesday. It has a death penalty for the culprits of rape.
According to a PTI report, the draft also proposes that those convicted of rape or gang rape will face life imprisonment. Called the 'Aparajita Mahila and Bal Bill (West Bengal Criminal Law and Amendment) Bill 2024', the new law aims to better protect women and children by amending existing laws and adding new rules about rape and sexual crimes.
The bill also proposes to amend the Indian Justice Code 2023, the Indian Civil Defence Code 2023 and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act 2012 as they apply to West Bengal. The amendments aim to increase penalties and create a framework for speedy investigation and trial of serious crimes against women and children.
The Mamata government says the draft bill aims to create a safe environment for women and children in the state. The government said, 'This is a testimony to the state's unwavering commitment to uphold the fundamental rights of citizens, especially women and children, and to ensure that heinous acts of rape and sexual crimes against children are met with the full force of the law.
The two-day special session of the Assembly has been called in response to the rape and murder of a woman doctor at the government RG Kar Medical College and Hospital last month. The bill is set to be introduced by state Law Minister Moloy Ghatak.
