Maharashtra Cabinet clears draft bill for proposed ‘Shakti Act’

Maharashtra Government has approved the introduction of two draft bills. These are in a bid to curb heinous crimes against women and children in Maharashtra. The draft bill has provisions for stern punishment, death penalty, life sentence, and hefty fines. It provides for completing probe in a case within 15 days and trial within 30 days.

The “Maharashtra Shakti Criminal Law (Maharashtra Amendment) Bill, 2020” has been drafted along the lines of the Andhra Pradesh Disha Act Criminal Law (AP Amendment) Act, 2019. Once passed by the state legislature it will be called the “Shakti Act”.

The second draft bill is meant for the implementation of the Shakti legislation. It has been named as Special Court and Machinery for Implementation of Maharashtra Criminal Law, 2020.

Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said, “Today the Cabinet discussed the Shati Act and cleared the draft bill to amend sections of Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. The two draft bills will be tabled in the State Legislature during the winter session next week. Once the State Legislature approves the two drafts, we will send it to the Centre for Presidential assent.”

Special police teams and separate courts will be set up for investigation and trial of cases. The perpetrators, if found guilty, will be punished with imprisonment for life for 10 years. In heinous cases with a death sentence. A sum of ₹ 10 lakh will be given to an acid attack victim. The convict will pay for it as a fine.

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