Aparajita Woman and Child Bill: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s government on Tuesday (September 3) introduced a bill on women’s safety in the West Bengal Assembly. Through this, a provision has been made to give death penalty to the culprits of rape. The TMC government has introduced the ‘Aparajita Mahila and Bal Bill’ in the Assembly. Under this bill, there is a provision of death penalty for the culprits in case of death of the rape victim. This bill has been introduced after changing the existing laws.
In fact, the Mamata government is on the backfoot regarding the rape-murder case of a female doctor in RG Kar Medical and Hospital in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal. After the Kolkata case, Mamata Banerjee had announced that she would make a law regarding rape. She had also announced to call a special session of the Assembly regarding this. Mamata had said that she also wants the victim to get justice as soon as possible. BJP has expressed its consent regarding this bill presented in the Assembly.
What are the major points of the Aparajita Women and Child Bill?
There are three main points of the Aparajita Women and Child Bill presented in the West Bengal Assembly, which provides for severe punishment to the culprits of rape.
- If a woman is raped and then murdered, the person guilty of doing so will be awarded the death penalty.
- If a woman is raped, the person guilty of this crime will be punished with life imprisonment.
- If a minor is raped, then the culprit is liable to both 20 years imprisonment and death penalty.
These are the three major points of this bill, which has been introduced after amending the law of the Central Government. The law of the Central Government regarding rape will not be completely changed. But through this new law, justice will be ensured in 21 days. If the decision is not given in 21 days, then 15 more days will be given with the permission of the Superintendent of Police. This is in the concurrent list and every state has the right to make amendments.
The bill will be sent to the governor to make it a law
After the bill is passed by the assembly, it will be sent to the governor, after whose signature it will take the form of a law. It is expected that Governor CV Anand Bose should not have any problem in signing the bill. The law of the state is made only with the approval of the governor. If the governor is not able to make an opinion about converting this bill into a law, then he can send it to the President. However, getting approval from the governor is enough to make it a law in the state.
Central government should bring a new law on rape: Abhishek Banerjee
TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee has demanded that the central government should also make a stringent law on rape on the lines of the West Bengal government and introduce it in the next session. He said, “Given the horrifying statistics of a rape happening every 15 minutes, the demand for a comprehensive anti-rape law is rising more than ever. Bengal is at the forefront of its anti-rape bill. The government must now take decisive action, whether by ordinance or by BNSS amendment in the upcoming Parliament session to ensure that justice is delivered quickly and punishment is severe. The trial and conviction of the accused should be completed in 50 days.”