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Follow UsFollowing a second letter from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, reiterating her appeal for stricter central legislation and severe punishment for grave crimes such as rape and murder in the aftermath of the Kolkata doctor's rape-murder case, the Centre maintained that current laws are sufficiently stringent to address violence and crimes against women. In a subsequent letter to Mamata Banerjee within the same week, Union Minister for Women and Child Development Annapurna Devi urged the West Bengal government to fully implement these laws.
Annapurna Devi criticized the Bengal Chief Minister's letter, claiming it contained "factually incorrect" information and suggested it was an attempt to "cover up delays" in the implementation of Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) in the state. Devi pointed out that West Bengal has not yet operationalized 11 additional FTSCs meant to handle rape and POCSO cases.
Mamata Banerjee had recently written to PM Narendra Modi following national outrage over the rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9. She called for a mandatory time-bound process for the disposal of rape and rape-murder cases.
Pending Cases and Operational Issues:
Annapurna Devi highlighted that despite 48,600 pending rape and POCSO cases in West Bengal, the state has not activated the additional 11 FTSCs, which could be either dedicated POCSO courts or combined FTSCs addressing both rape and POCSO cases as needed. Devi accused the state government of using incorrect information to obscure delays in establishing these courts.
Regarding Banerjee’s request for permanent judicial officers in FTSCs, Devi noted that the scheme guidelines mandate one judicial officer and seven staff members specifically for handling rape and POCSO cases. She clarified that FTSCs cannot be assigned as additional duties to existing judicial officers or court staff, a point previously communicated to West Bengal.
Centre’s Position:
The Union Minister emphasized that the central laws are comprehensive and stringent enough to combat violence and crimes against women. Devi urged that if the state government adheres strictly to these central legislations, it would significantly improve the criminal justice system, ensure perpetrators face appropriate consequences, and provide justice to victims.
Devi concluded by calling for increased sensitization and diligence from all involved officials to ensure cases are handled with proper care and attention within the timelines prescribed by law.