Centre Criticizes Mamata’s Letter on Rape Laws

The Centre has strongly criticized West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s second letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which called for stricter central laws and harsher punishments for heinous crimes such as rape and murder. The response from the Union Women and Child Development Minister Annapurna Devi accused Banerjee of attempting to “cover up delays” in the state’s handling of these serious cases.

In her letter to Banerjee, Devi highlighted that the Bengal government has yet to operationalize 11 additional Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) specifically designed to deal with rape and sexual assault cases involving children. The Centre stressed that stringent laws are already in place but must be implemented effectively by the state government.

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Despite the pendency of over 48,600 rape and Pocso cases in West Bengal, the state has not activated the additional FTSCs, which would specifically handle such cases as required. Devi’s letter, shared publicly, pointed out inaccuracies in Banerjee’s appeal and suggested that the state government was attempting to excuse its delays.

Banerjee’s appeal to the Prime Minister came in the wake of public outrage over the brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9. The Bengal Chief Minister called for time-bound resolution of such cases and reiterated her demand for more stringent laws.

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The Union Minister clarified that West Bengal’s existing 88 Fast Track Courts (FTCs) are not the same as FTSCs under the Central Government’s scheme. FTCs handle various civil and criminal cases, whereas FTSCs are solely focused on rape and Pocso cases. Devi emphasized that each FTSC is intended to have one judicial officer and seven staff members dedicated exclusively to these cases.

Further addressing Banerjee’s demand for permanent judicial officers in FTSCs, Devi noted that states could appoint officers and staff on a contractual basis if they face workforce shortages. This arrangement is already provided for under the FTSC scheme.

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The Centre reminded the West Bengal government of existing legal provisions that ensure severe punishments for rape and related crimes. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) outlines penalties ranging from a minimum of 10 years of rigorous imprisonment to life imprisonment or even death, depending on the crime’s severity. Additionally, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) mandates the completion of rape investigations, including forensic examinations, within two months from the FIR and trial completion within two months of filing the chargesheet.

Devi reiterated that current Central laws are comprehensive enough to address violence against women and urged the state to implement them effectively. She called for sensitization among duty holders to ensure timely and sensitive handling of such cases.

This letter from the Centre to Banerjee has reignited public and political debate on the effectiveness of state vs. central legal mechanisms in addressing crimes against women. Amid nationwide protests demanding justice for the trainee doctor, the case has been handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for further investigation.

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