Punjab Newsline, West Bengal, September 3-
The West Bengal Assembly unanimously passed the the Aparajita Women and Child (West Bengal Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill, 2024, with a voice vote on September 3.
State Law Minister Moloy Ghatak had introduced the anti-rape Bill during the special session in the Assembly, as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called it “historic”.
The bill seeks to impose death penalty on persons convicted of rape, if the crime results in the victim's death or leads to a permanent unconscious state.The Bill was tabled in the wake of the rape and murder of a woman doctor at the State-run R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in August.
During discussion on it, Mamta Banerjee asked BJP legislators to urge the Governor of the State to sign the Bill.
Rape is a curse against humanity and social reforms are required to prevent such crimes,” she said. “Once this Bill is passed, we will form a special Aparajita Task Force from among police to ensure time-bound completion of probe.”
“It is a historic and model Bill, and any well-meaning person will support it,” said Mamta Banerjee.