The ruling Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal will introduce an anti-rape bill in the state assembly on Tuesday. The bill provides for death penalty to those convicted of rape if the crime results in the death or permanent unconsciousness of the victim.
It also demands life imprisonment without parole for the convicted accused. The draft bill titled “Aparajita Mahila and Bal Bill (West Bengal Criminal Law and Amendment) Bill 2024” proposes to “create a safe environment for women and children” in the state. The government led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has called a two-day session of the state assembly from Monday to introduce the bill. It will be introduced by state Law Minister Malay Ghatak.
The new bill aims to amend the newly passed criminal law reform bills Indian Justice Code (BNS) 2023, Indian Civil Security Code (BNSS), 2023 laws and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act 2012 applicable in the state of West Bengal. The draft bill provides for amendment of sections 64, 66, 70(1), 71, 72(1), 73, 124(1) and 124(2) of the BNS, 2023, which broadly deal with punishment for rape, rape and murder, gang rape, repeat offence, disclosure of identity of victim and causing hurt by use of acid, etc.
It also seeks to delete sections 65(1), 65(2) and 70(2) dealing with the punishment of rape offenders below the age of 16 years, 12 years and 18 years respectively. For investigation of such offences, the Bill proposes a time limit of three weeks, reduced from the previous time limit of two months. Further relaxation can be granted “by any police officer not below the rank of SP or equivalent after recording the reasons in writing in the case diary maintained under section 192 of the BNSS, 2023”.