New Delhi: To curb sexual offences against women and children, the Maharashtra Assembly on Thursday passed the Shakti Criminal Laws (Maharashtra Amendment) Bill. The bill has stringent provisions, including death penalty for crimes against women and children, PTI reported.
The bill will now need the approval of the Legislative Council to become a law.
The bill, which was tabled by Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil on Thursday, mandates that a probe needs to be completed within 30 days from the date a complaint is lodged.
It puts the onus on social media platforms and Internet service providers to provide data for investigation purposes.
Data needs to be provided within seven days to an investigating officer. Failure to do so by social media platforms or internet/mobile data providers may attract imprisonment of up to three months or/and fine up to Rs 25 lakh, the bill says.
The bill was first tabled in the Maharashtra Assembly in 2020. However, after demand from the Opposition and outcry by activists, the bill was referred it to a joint committee.
A false complaint of sexual assault will invite one to three years in prison and a fine of Rs 1 lakh, the state Home Minister said, according to PTI.
The bill proposes addition of a new section, '354E', to the Indian Penal Code to deal with "outraging modesty of women, men and transgender persons through electronic or digital means".
During the debate, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Devendra Fadnavis said while the bill had a provision for designated courts to deal with such offenses, there Was a need for dedicated courts for women to make the law more effective.