West Bengal Govt Passes 'Anti-Rape Bill' In State Assembly, Proposes Time-Bound Trial & Death Penalty For Those Guilty Of Rape

The West Bengal government has passed an anti-rape amendment bill titled 'Aparajita Woman and Child (West Bengal Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill, 2024', seeking to amend the punishment for sexual crimes such as rape and to impose time-bound limits for the conclusion of investigation and trial in rape cases.

The bill is set to come into effect from 5th September, 2024.

The Bill proposes "to create a safer environment for women and children" in the state and seeks to enhance the already prevalent penalties for rape as laid down in the BNS to ensure that the punishment is made more stringent, including the possibility of a death sentence for those found guilty of rape.

This move comes from the Mamata Banerjee-led government in the wake of great unrest due to the brutal rape and murder of a resident doctor at the government-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, which led to widespread protests all across the country.

According to the newly tabled Bill, it seeks to amend various Sections of BNS, 2023, which pertain to punishment for rape, rape and murder, gang-rape, repeat offenders, disclosure of victim identity and even causing hurt by use of acid, etc. It also proposes to omit concessions under the BNS for child offenders who are found guilty of the offence of rape.

"It is a testament to the State's unwavering commitment to uphold the fundamental rights of its citizens, particularly women and children, and to ensure that heinous acts of rape and sexual offences against children are met with the full force of the law", it states.

The Bill was drafted by a team led by Advocate Sanjay Basu comprising Advocates Sucharita Basu, Soumen Mohanty, Swati Sharma, Riddhi Jain, Shibana Farheen, Upasana Mohanty and Pragya Basak (Intern).