Amid massive protests over the rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor in Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, the West Bengal Assembly today passed the Aparajita Bill to amend some provisions in the criminal code, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, for the state. These amendments make penalties for rape and child abuse more stringent.
The bill will now be forwarded to West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose and subsequently to President Droupadi Murmu for their approval.
Describing the bill as "historic" and a "model," Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee dedicated it to the memory of a 31-year-old trainee doctor who was recently raped and murdered at the government-run RG Kar Medical Centre and Hospital. The 'Aparajita Woman and Child Bill (West Bengal Criminal Laws and Amendment) 2024' introduces stringent penalties, including the death sentence for those convicted of rape if their actions lead to the victim's death or leave her in a vegetative state. It also mandates life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for rape convicts.
During her address, Mamata Banerjee urged the Leader of Opposition (LoP), Suvendu Adhikari, to advocate for the Governor's quick approval of the bill, emphasizing the state's responsibility to implement it once enacted.
"Rape is a heinous crime against humanity, and social reforms are necessary to prevent such acts," Banerjee stated. She also criticized the high rates of crimes against women in states like Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, while asserting that West Bengal has been effective in delivering justice to victims.
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