The West Bengal government is likely to introduce a new bill during a special two-day session of the state Assembly, aiming to impose the death penalty for those convicted of rape and murder.
As per sources, State Law Minister Malaya Ghatak will present the ‘Aparajita Women & Child Bill’ on Tuesday.
Insights
The proposed legislation comes in the wake of nationwide outrage following the recent rape and murder of a junior doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College & Hospital.
The tragic incident has sparked widespread protests and calls for harsher penalties for such heinous crimes.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is likely to attend the Assembly session and participate in the debate over the bill.
The Assembly has allocated two hours for discussions on the proposal, which seeks to address the growing concerns over the safety of women and children in the state.
Last month, during the foundation day event of the Trinamool Congress student wing, Banerjee announced the plan to introduce this bill, emphasizing its importance in combating sexual violence.
She has also written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the central government to enact stricter national legislation for rape cases, advocating for expedited trials to conclude within 15 days.
Despite the government’s push for this new bill, opposition parties and legal experts have raised concerns.
Critics argue that existing national laws already provide strong measures to deal with such crimes, questioning the necessity of additional state-specific legislation.
The West Bengal administration has faced significant criticism for its handling of the recent rape-murder case, with accusations of a potential cover-up adding to the controversy.
The introduction of the ‘Aparajita Women & Child Bill’ is seen by some as an attempt by the state government to address public anger and restore confidence in its commitment to justice for victims of sexual violence.
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