Maha’s ‘Shakti’ law spells death, stiff penalty for crimes against women, kids

By Quaid Najmi Mumbai, Dec 9 : After dilly-dallying and working on it for over a year, the Maharashtra government on Wednesday finally unveiled the ‘Shakti Act’ which provides for death penalty and enhanced punishments for crimes against women and children, as well as inclusion of several other forms of crimes, besides speedier probes, trial and appeals.
The significant development is in line with the Maha Vikas Aghadi’s (MVA) commitment in November 2019 when it took office and was a priority area for Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, said an official.
“The Maharashtra Shakti Criminal Law (Maharashtra Amendment) Act, 2020 will be introduced in the legislature along with special court and machinery for its implementation,” Thackeray announced after the meeting of the state cabinet here this evening.
The much-anticipated law is on the lines of the Andhra Pradesh Disha Act Criminal Law (AP Amendment) Act, 2019.
“The cabinet has cleared the draft bill to amend sections of Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. It will be tabled in the state legislature in the winter session next week. Thereafter, it will be sent to the Centre and shall be enforced after it receives Presidential assent,” Home Minister Anil Deshmukh told media persons.
“The cabinet approved the introduction of the two proposed legislations (Shakti), to strengthen the framework of the proposed legislation, to effectively address complaints of violence against women and children. The bill increases punishments and includes new crimes,” said an official from the CMO.