Implement existing legal framework: Centre to state
Times of India | 27 August 2024
Kolkata: Bengal should implement the existing legislative framework, which was “stringent enough”, WCD minister Annapurna Devi said in reply to an Aug 22 letter from CM Mamata Banerjee in the wake of the RG Kar case.
In spite of 48,600 pending rape and Pocso cases, state govt had not taken steps to start 11 out of 17 Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs), Centre said.On Banerjee’s demand for fast-track courts, Devi wrote that a total of 123 FTSCs — 20 exclusive Pocso and 103 combined FTSCs for both rape and Pocso cases — were allocated under a central scheme; however, none of these were operationalised till mid-June last year.
The letter said Bengal on June 8, 2023, communicated willingness to start seven FTSCs. Under the revised targets of 17 such courts, only six exclusive Pocso courts were operationalised till June 30, 2024. Devi stated that Women Helpline (181), Emergency Response Support System (112), Child Helpline (1098) and Cyber Crime Helpline (1930) had been put in place but despite several reminders, Bengal had not implemented the Women Helpline.
Regarding the need for exemplary punishment in rape cases, the letter said this had already been prescribed under BNS. “It is imperative that the State machinery is fully sensitised and geared up to take the fullest advantage of the legal and schematic provisions made by the Central Government for ensuring safety and security of women and girls in the state,” Devi wrote.
Banerjee had written to PM Narendra Modi stating that crimes against women needed to be addressed in a comprehensive manner through stringent central legislation. She had also stressed on the need for fast-track courts.