Speedy Courts, CrPC Amendments: Features of Maharashtra's Shakti Bill to Curb Crimes Against Women & Children
Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh tabled the Shakti bill in the state Assembly on Monday. The bill proposed special courts ensuring speedy trial in cases of crimes against women and children, amendments in sections of IPC, CrPC and POCSO to sternly deal with such crimes. The bill also sought for the death penalty for guilty and in order to counter false cases it proposed imprisonment for giving wrong information.
“The offences against women and children, especially heinous and sexual offences have increased many fold in the State. The perpetrators continue their inhumane acts on innocent and helpless, despite the penal provisions of the various criminal laws. Recently, numerous inhuman acts have taken place in the state where the women and children were subjected to rape, burning alive and murder. Such incidents are shocking to the social conscience,” Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said.