New Delhi: The Central government has responded sharply to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s recent letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where she demanded tougher central laws to punish rapists following the rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor in Kolkata. The Centre has pointed out that West Bengal has been allocated 123 fast-track courts (FTSCs) to handle cases of rape and child abuse, but many of these courts remain non-operational.
In her letter, Banerjee highlighted the alarming frequency of rape cases across India, citing data that indicated 90 rape cases occur daily in the country, with many victims being murdered. She called for comprehensive and stringent central legislation to ensure that such crimes are met with exemplary punishment and proposed the establishment of fast-track courts to expedite justice, suggesting that trials should be completed within 15 days. Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Annpurna Devi, replied to Banerjee's letter, expressing her condolences to the family of the victim and noting that the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, implemented last month, already addresses crimes against women with stringent punishments.
Addressing the issue of fast-track courts, the minister stated that a centrally sponsored scheme to set up these courts was launched in October 2019. As of June 2024, 752 FTSCs, including 409 exclusive POCSO Courts, were operational across 30 states and union territories, having disposed of over 253,000 cases. However, the minister highlighted that despite being allocated 123 FTSCs, including 20 exclusive POCSO Courts, West Bengal had not operationalized any of these courts until mid-June 2023.
The state eventually committed to starting 7 FTSCs, but only 6 exclusive POCSO Courts were operational as of June 2024, leaving 11 courts still inactive despite a backlog of 48,600 rape and POCSO cases in the state. The minister emphasized that action on this matter is pending with the state government.
Furthermore, the minister criticized the West Bengal government for not implementing the national helpline systems established by the Centre, such as the Women Helpline (WHL) 181, Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) 112, Child Helpline 1098, and Cyber Crime Helpline 1930. These systems are designed to provide immediate assistance to women and children in distress, but the state has not integrated the WHL, despite repeated requests from the Centre.
The minister concluded by asserting that while the existing legal framework is robust enough to tackle crimes against women, effective implementation depends on the state government. She urged the West Bengal government to fully utilize the provisions and initiatives provided by the Centre to create a safe and secure environment for women and girls in the state.
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