Kolkata doctor rape-murder case: Bengal govt proposes capital punishment for rape convicts in draft bill

The Mamata Banerjee government in the Indian state of West Bengal, on Monday (Sept 2), proposedcapital punishment for people convicted of rape if their actions result in the victim's death or cause them to become vegetative.

A report by the news agency PTI said that the draft of theanti-rape bill will be tabled by the government in the West Bengal Assembly on Tuesday. The draft states that people convicted of rape and gang rape would receive a life sentence lasting for the rest of their natural lives.

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A look at the bill

Titled "Aparajita Woman and Child Bill, (West Bengal Criminal Laws and Amendment) Bill 2024,"the legislation aims to enhance protection for women and children by amending and introducing new provisions related to rape and sexual offences, PTI reported.

The draft Bill proposes to amend the newly passed Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 laws and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act 2012 "in their application to the state of West Bengal to enhance punishment and to constitute the framework for...expeditious investigation and trial of the heinous act of violence against women and children."

The introduction of this bill comes as the West Bengal government has been facing widespread criticism over its handling of the recent case of the brutal rape and murder of a post-graduate trainee doctorat the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.

The bill will be tabled by state Law Minister Moloy Ghatak on Tuesday, said the report.

BJP set to oppose bill

The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state will oppose the Mamata government's bill.

Speaking to The Indian Express,BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul said that the bill was being tabled by the state government to hide its failures.

Meanwhile, Union Minister Shantanu Thakur told the news agency ANI, "Why didn't the state government bring such a legislation before? Now, this bill is being brought to hide the main issue. They are trying to bring this bill to gain sympathy. But all this will not work. We will continue to protest..."

(With inputs from agencies)