West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee speaks after tabling of the Aparajita Woman and Child Bill (West Bengal Criminal Laws and Amendment Bill 2024) during a session of the state Legislative Assembly, in Kolkata, Tuesday, September 3, 2024.
Credit: PTI Photo
The West Bengal Assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed the anti-rape Bill after Opposition lend full support to it.
Titled the 'Aparajita Woman and Child Bill (West Bengal Criminal Laws and Amendment) Bill 2024,' the legislation aims to strengthen protections for women and children by revising and introducing new provisions related to rape and sexual offences.
Mamata government's new anti-rape bill will include the following provisions:
Life sentence without parole for those convicted
The bill stipulates a life sentence without parole for those convicted of rape, along with a fine.
Capital punishment for those convicted if victim is left dead or in vegetative state after the crime
The Bill seeks capital punishment for persons convicted of rape if their actions result in the victim's death or leave her in a vegetative state, along with a fine.
Tighter rules under POCSO Act
The provisions under POCSO Act will be further tightened in the state.
Aparajita Task Force
A task force will be formed under the provisions of the bill to punish the accused within 21 days of the preliminary report. Any trial thereafter must conclude within 30 days.
Routes on which doctors and nurses travel will be provided with ample security
For this, the state's government has sanctioned Rs 120 crores.
Acid attacks convicts to face life imprisonment without parole
According to Bar and Bench, those convicted for acid attacks will face life imprisonment without parole.
A two-day special session of the Assembly has been summoned on Monday in the wake of the rape-murder of a woman medic at the state-run R G Kar Medical College and Hospital last month.
The Bill was tabled by state Law Minister Moloy Ghatak.
(With PTI and DHNS Inputs)