Mita Mukherjee

The Mamata Banerjee–led West Bengal government on Tuesday unanimously passed the “Aparajita Women and Child Bill (West Bengal Criminal Laws and Amendment) Bill 2024 that seeks capital punishments for persons convicted of rape if their action result in the victim’s death or leave her in a vegetative state.

The legislation aiming to strengthen protection of women and children and introducing new provisions related to offences like rape and sexual assault was passed in special two-day session of the state Assembly.

After the bill was introduced by state law minister Malay Ghatak, chief minister Mamata Banerjee said the bill is significant as it aims to expedite the process of punishing the guilty, ensure quick investigation and fast delivery of justice. The anti-rape bill also aims to address certain deficiencies in the central legislation.

“ Any incident of rape is a curse against humanity.   Whoever commits rape deserves harshest punishment. There can be no progress in a society where there is suffering of women…” the chief minister said, speaking on the bill.

In the wake of statewide protests going on in Bengal against the rape and murder of 31-year old junior doctor of R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, the chief minister on last Wednesday had said while addressing a programme of her party’s student wing that “hang till death” is the only punishment for a crime like the rape and murder of the R G Kar junior doctor.

The bill proposes that investigations of rape be completed within 21 days of the initial report. In the previous provision a two-month deadline existed for completing the investigations. The 21-days time frame can be extended in special situations. The bill also says that judgments will be pronounced within a month of the framing of the chargesheet.

The Opposition today lent full support to the bill. Though Opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari moved seven amendments to the bill, they were not accepted by the House. But Adhikari said that the government must ensure that the new law gets implemented without any delay.

The chief minister said if the governor gives his nod without delay, it will be her responsibility to implement the bill in the state immediately.

Dedicating the bill to the memory of the 31-year old victim, the chief minister described the legislation as “historic”. She said the bill will be a “model” for other states.

‘After passing the bill in the House, it will go to the governor. Once it gets the governor’s nod it will go to the President. It will be historic after it gets the President’s approval,” the chief minister said.

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