Maharashtra Cabinet approves two bills for strengthening law for protection of women and children

Maharashtra Cabinet has approved two Bills for strengthening the law for the protection of women and children. These two bills will be introduced Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and Council during the two-day winter session.

A two-day winter session of the legislature begins in Mumbai from December 14.

He said the bill, to be called the "Shakti Act", will come up for discussion and approval in both houses of the legislature.

It provides for completing probe in a case within 15 days and trial within 30 days, Deshmukh said.

Here are the key highlights of the bill: 

• Aims to control heinous sexual offences against women and children, the minister said.
• It provides for completing investigation and trial within a stipulated time-frame and stringent punishment, including the death penalty and heavy fines, for the culprits, Mr Deshmukh said.
• Special police teams and separate courts will be set up for investigation and trial of cases against women and children, according to the draft bill.
• The perpetrators, if found guilty, will be punished with imprisonment for life for not less than ten years but may extend to the remainder of natural life or with death in cases which have characteristics of being heinous in nature, it said.
• Under the proposed legislation, a sum of ₹ 10 lakh will be given to an acid attack victim for plastic surgery and facial reconstruction and the amount will be collected as fine from the convict.