What is Aparajita Bill passed by West Bengal government: All you need to know

Amid ongoing widespread protest across the nation for the rape and murder of a doctor in Kolkata, the West Bengal Assembly on Tuesday passed the Aparajita Woman and Child Bill (West Bengal Criminal Laws and Amendment) Bill 2024.

The bill passed by the Mamata Banerjee government, proposes stringent punishments, including the death penalty, for convicted rapists, especially in cases where the crime results in the victim’s death or leaves them in a vegetative state.



What is Aparajita Bill?
The bill seeks to amend key sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, recently introduced criminal law by the central government.

Those convicted of severe crimes could face death penalty or life imprisonment without possibility of parole. It also includes provisions for harsher sentences for repeat offenders, who could be sentenced to life imprisonment or even death.

The bill provides quicker investigations, with a new three-week deadline for cases to be completed, a significant reduction from the current two-month period. However, an extension of up to 15 days could be granted under specific conditions.

Additionally, the bill aims to establish a special task force called the "Aparajita Task Force" at the district level, led by a deputy superintendent of police. This task force would focus on handling these serious cases with the necessary resources and expertise to reduce the trauma for victims and their families.

Special courts will also be set up to try these cases, and publishing any details about court proceedings without permission could result in imprisonment for up to five years, along with a fine. The bill, which will be introduced by State Law Minister Moloy Ghatak, is expected to be discussed in the state assembly soon.

President approval

Criminal law in India falls under the concurrent list, meaning both state and central governments can legislate on the subject. However, for the Aparajita bill to be enacted, it must receive the President's approval.

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