Kolkata: Anti-Rape ‘Aparajita’ Bill introduced in West Bengal Assembly. Law Minister Malay Ghatak introduced the ‘Aparajita Women and Children Bill’ (West Bengal Criminal Law Amendment Bill, 2024). The draft bill was given to every legislator on Monday. Similarly, the opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari has submitted several proposals with amendments before the bill is presented. Based on that, Speaker Biman Banerjee said that the amendments submitted by him will be discussed. BJP MLA from Dabgram-Phulbari Shikha Chattopadhyay spoke about this at the beginning of the discussion.
An important new addition to the ‘Aparajita Women and Children Bill’ (West Bengal Criminal Law Amendment Bill, 2024) provides for capital punishment for the rapist if the victim goes into a coma as a result of rape. This provision is reminiscent of the case of Aruna Shanbaug in Mumbai. The nurse who was raped in her own hospital was in a coma for almost 40 years. But the rapists were not given death penalty. If this bill of the state government becomes a law, it is believed that many like Arunad will get justice. Besides, in case of rape and murder, the death penalty remains as per the previous law. The minimum punishment for gang rape is life imprisonment and fine.
Comments are closed.