West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose has forwarded the anti-rape bill passed by the state Assembly to President Droupadi Murmu for consideration. The decision comes following the Governor’s charges of “glaring lapses” in the bill.
The Aparajita Woman and Child (West Bengal Criminal Laws and Amendment) Bill 2024 was enacted earlier this week, after significant public outrage over the violent rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College. The measure was enacted to address growing concerns about crimes against women in the state.
However, Governor Bose expressed strong reservations about the bill. In a statement, the Raj Bhavan said the Governor had received a technical report highlighting defects in the bill. He also criticized the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government, accusing it of maintaining an “intimidatory stance.”
Bose also took issue with procedural lapses, claiming the Assembly secretariat failed to provide the necessary documentation of the debates, including their translation, as per legislative rules. His decision to involve President Murmu adds further tension between the state government and the Governor’s office.
This development has worsened the ongoing dispute between Governor Bose and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, with both sides exchanging scathing words about state governance difficulties.