National Desk, September 3, 2024 – West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s government has introduced the ‘Aparajita Woman and Child Bill (West Bengal Criminal Laws and Amendment) Bill 2024’ in the state Assembly today. The bill, presented by Law Minister Moloy Ghatak, aims to bolster protections for women and children by amending existing laws and implementing stricter measures against sexual offenses.
Key provisions of the bill include severe penalties for those convicted of rape, including the possibility of the death penalty if the crime results in the victim’s death or leaves her in a vegetative state. This legislative move follows intense public outcry over the recent rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RK Kar Medical College and Hospital.
While the bill has received support from various quarters, BJP MLA Shikha Chatterjee has voiced cautious optimism. Chatterjee praised the bill’s intentions but noted that the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita already encompasses stringent laws addressing crimes against women. She also criticized the West Bengal government for not participating in the national review of criminal laws conducted earlier this year.
The West Bengal Assembly is set to hold a two-day special session starting Monday to deliberate on the bill. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay are expected to lead discussions on the proposed legislation and its implications for the state’s legal framework.
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