Maharashtra Assembly passes Shakti Bill; Panel Propose Changes for Stringent Laws

The Maharashtra Legislative Assembly today, December 23, has unanimously passed the amended Shakti Bill, which aims to curb the incidence of violence against women and children.

Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil, while presenting the bill in the Assembly yesterday, December 23, had said that provision has been made for death penalty for rape.

Also, in cases of atrocities against women, it has been mentioned in the bill that the accused will be given severe punishment by filing a chargesheet within 21 days.

However, Maharashtra legislature’s joint select committee (JSC) on a proposed law to prevent atrocities against women recommended more stringent punishments than at present.

While tabling the changes recommended by the 21-member committee, the minister mentioned that the expenditure of plastic surgery and face reconstruction operations for the victim will be taken care of from the penalty to be charged from the accused.

The committee also recommended an increase in punishment under section 175A of the IPC for failure to share data or electronic record for the purpose of investigation by social media platforms, internet service providers to three months from one month and a fine up to ₹25 lakh from the ₹5 lakh proposed in the previous draft.

Here are other recommendations:

• Under section 326A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Shakti bill proposes to increase imprisonment for acid attack perpetrators from the current 10 years to life to a minimum of 15 years extendable to life along with a fine paid to the survivor.
• A new section 354D was proposed in the case of molestation of a woman.
• Provide for death penalty for rape
• Provision to complete the investigation within 30 days in case of sexual offenses
• The committee recommended increasing the punishment for false complaints

Now, the revised version of the Shakti bill is expected to be placed before the Legislative Council for approval. Once the bill is approved in both the houses, it will be sent to Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and President Ramnath Kovind for approval. After getting approval from there, the relevant bill will be converted into law and that law will be implemented in the state (Maharashtra).