West Bengal has been allocated 123 fast-track courts to hear cases of rape and child abuse, the Centre has said, adding, many of those courts are not operational.
The statement by the Centre comes in response to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who, in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on August 22, demanded stringent central legislation with exemplary punishment for perpetrators of rape, in the backdrop of countrywide protests over the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
In a letter to the Chief Minister, Annpurna Devi, Union Minister for Women and Child Development, wrote that the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) implemented in July “comprehensively addresses the issues of crimes against women by providing stringent punishments”.
“As of 30.06.2024, 752 FTSCs including 409 exclusive POCSO Courts are functional in 30 States/UTs which have disposed of more than 2,53,000 cases since the inception of scheme,” the letter read.
“Under the scheme, the State of West Bengal was allocated a total of 123 FTSCs, which included 20 exclusive POCSO Courts and 103 combined FTSCs dealing with both rape and POCSO Act cases. However, none of these courts had been operationalized till mid-June, 2023,” it read.
“The State of West Bengal communicated its willingness to participate in the Scheme vide letter dated 08.06.2023, committing to start 7 FTSCs. Under the revised target, West Bengal has been allocated 17 FTSCs, of which only 6 exclusive POCSO Courts have been operationalized as of 30.06 2024.”
“In spite of a pendency of 48,600 rape and POCSO cases in West Bengal, the State Government has not taken any steps to start the remaining 11 FTSCS. Action in this regard is pending with the state government,” Annpurna Devi wrote in the letter.
“Recognizing the need for Helplines as first responders in the golden hour to a woman or child in distress, Women Helpline (WHL) 181, Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) -112, Child Helpline 1098, Cyber Crime Helpline – 1930 have been put in place in the last few years. The WHL and Child Helplines have been integrated with ERSS also. But, unfortunately the people of the State of West Bengal cannot utilize this facility as the State Government has not implemented the WHL despite many requests and reminders from Gol,” she wrote.
FULL TEXT OF CENTRE’s RESPONSE TO MAMATA BANERJEE
MAMATA BANERJEE’s LETTER TO PM NARENDRA MODI
In her letter to the Prime Minister, Mamata Banerjee had demanded stringent central legislation with exemplary punishment for perpetrators of rape.
Noting the regular occurrence of rape cases throughout the country, Banerjee highlighted that, according to available data, nearly 90 rape cases occur daily. In many cases, rape victims were murdered.
“It is horrifying to see this trend. It shakes the confidence and conscience of society and the nation. It is our bounden duty to put an end to it so that women feel safe and secure. Such a serious and sensitive issue needs to be addressed comprehensively through stringent central legislation that prescribes exemplary punishment for those involved in these dastardly crimes,” the letter read.
Banerjee also proposed the establishment of fast-track special courts for speedy trials in these cases.
“To ensure quick justice, trials should preferably be completed within 15 days,” she suggested.
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