The West Bengal Assembly passed the the Aparajita Women and Child (West Bengal Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill, 2024, with a voice vote today. The bill is now required to be passed by the Governor of the state and then it will be sent to the President of India. 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 the discussion in the house, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that capital punishment has been provided in the bill. She also said that harshest punishment has been provided in the bill for the crime of rape and sexual harassment.
