Home minister calls for suggestions on Maharashtra Shakti Bills

NAGPUR: State home minister Anil Deshmukh took to social media seeking suggestions and amendments in the proposed Maharashtra Shakti Bills which would provide for capital punishment and substantial fines for rape and acid attacks along with compensation for survivors.
Deshmukh tweeted his appeal asking for the citizens to come forward with their views and objections to the proposed laws before the committee constituted especially for the purpose under him.Citizens have been asked to provide their inputs before a special committee headed by Deshmukh by January 15.
Deshmukh said a second meeting of the committee was held on the various issues pertaining to the Shakti Bills. “Citizens can send their suggestions through mail too which we have already publicized,” said Deshmukh.
The “Maharashtra Shakti Criminal Law (Maharashtra Amendment) Bill, 2020” was been framed on the lines of the Andhra Pradesh Disha Act Criminal Law (AP Amendment) Act, 2019. Andhra Pradesh had enacted the stringent anti-rape law following ghastly gang rape and murder of the veterinarian of Hyderabad.
Another draft bill, to lay down the guidelines of enforcing the Shakti legislation, has been titled as Special Court and Machinery for Implementation of Maharashtra Criminal Law, 2020.
Some women rights group and activists had objected to the proposed laws stating they diluted the definition of rape and gave a liberal and wider scope to decriminalization of consensual sex.
The Shakti bills would also bring amendments into Indian Penal Code, Criminal Procedures Code and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.