'123 fast-track courts in Bengal, most not operational': Centre's sharp reply to Mamata Banerjee's letter after Kolkata doctor murder
PTC News Desk: Following West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighting r@pe incidents across India following the brutal r@pe and murder of a Kolkata doctor, the Centre issued a stern response.
Centre said that West Bengal has been allocated 123 fast-track courts to hear r@pe and child abuse cases however majority of those courts are not operational.
On August 22, Mamata Banerjee wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding strong central laws and exemplary punishment for r@pists in the wake of nationwide protests over the r@pe and death 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, stated that the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) enacted 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 r@pe and POCSO Act cases. However, none of these courts had been operationalized till mid-June, 2023...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," it added.
The letter further read, “In spite of a pendency of 48,600 r@pe 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."
“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."
- With inputs from agencies
