West Bengal passes 'Aparajita Bill' making rape punishable by death

Recently, the initiative to pass the bill was taken based on the incident of rape and murder of a female doctor at RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata, West Bengal. The bill will now be sent to Governor CV Anand Bose for assent. It will be sent to the President of India Draupadi Murmu after he gives his approval. If approved by the President, it will become law.

Amid widespread protests over the rape and murder of a woman doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, India, the country's assembly passed the 'Aparajita Bill' making rape punishable by death. Indian media NDTV reported this information on Tuesday.

It is said that the bill titled 'The Aparajita Women and Child Bill 2024' (West Bengal Criminal Laws Amendment Bill 2024) has been unanimously passed by the initiative of the government led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. At the time, the state BJP and other opposition parties also supported the law on Mamata's call.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said in the discussion on the bill in the Assembly, 'This bill is a history! The Prime Minister could not. we could I showed Shame on the Prime Minister! He could not protect the girls. I demand the resignation of the Home Minister.'

Mamata also said, 'Through this bill we have tried to close the loopholes in the central law. Rape is a curse against humanity. Social reforms are needed to prevent such crimes.'

No state or center in India has the death penalty for rape. West Bengal has become the first state in India to amend the Central Act against rape, gang rape and child sexual abuse.

The 'Aparajita' Bill will amend several sections of the 'Indian Justice Code' (BNS). The 'Innocence of Women and Children (West Bengal Criminal Law and Amendment) Bill, 2024' provides for death penalty as the maximum penalty for rape. Amendments mentioned in the new bill:

1. In cases of rape and gang-rape, the Indian Penal Code provides for rigorous imprisonment of 10 to 20 years, life imprisonment in special cases. The Aparajita Bill states that in case of this wrongdoing, the punishment is life imprisonment, if the crime is serious, the death penalty.

2. In case of death of the victim, Indian Penal Code prescribes punishment – ​​20 years rigorous imprisonment, life imprisonment in special cases. The new Aparjita Bill has increased that punishment to death penalty and fine.

3. In case of acid attack, Indian Penal Code prescribes 10 years rigorous imprisonment, life imprisonment in special cases and fine. According to the new bill, acid attack punishable by life imprisonment, death penalty in special cases.

In addition, the penalty period for revealing the identity of a victim of sexual violence has also been extended. While the Indian Penal Code provides for imprisonment of up to two years in this case, the Aparajita Bill provides for three to five years of imprisonment. The bill calls for the formation of Aparajita Task Force for speedy investigation.

Recently, the initiative to pass the bill was taken based on the incident of rape and murder of a female doctor at RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata, West Bengal. The bill will now be sent to Governor CV Anand Bose for assent. It will be sent to the President of India Draupadi Murmu after he gives his approval. If approved by the President, it will become law.