Maharashtra government likely to pass a law to curb crime against women

After Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) protested against Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government over farmers’ issue and the rise in crimes against women, the Maharashtra government formed a five-member committee to prepare draft law to curb the increasing crimes against women. 

The committee which is being headed by Maharashtra Police Academy Director Aswati Dorje will have to submit the draft law to hold back atrocities against women within 10 days. As per the instructions provided by the Maharashtra government, the committee will have to draft the law on the lines of ‘Disha Act’. 

On the third day of the Maharashtra budget session, State Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said that the government will try to pass the law to curb crime against women in the ongoing budget session. 

"The Maharashtra government is taking strong steps to curb the atrocities committed against women. A team led by me went to Andhra Pradesh to study the Disha Act," said Deshmukh. 

The committee is expected to formulate a draft law and submit a report on the same till February 29. Under the ‘Disha’ Act or Andhra Pradesh Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, the investigation time predicted to completed is 7 days and trial in 14 working days.

Due to this Act passed by Andhra Pradesh government, the total judgment time reduces to 21 days from the existing four months. The Act was brought in to provide speedy trial and awarding of the death penalty for crimes against women and children. 

In Maharashtra, a similar law on the lines of Disha Act will be enacted and introduced in the ongoing Maharashtra budget session. The MVA government intends to clear the same in the ongoing session to curb the crimes against women. 

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Earlier, the opposition had protested against the Uddhav Thackeray government for their failure in solving farmers’ issue and the rising crime against women. 

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