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West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose has referred the east-Indian state's anti-rape bill to President Droupadi Murmu for her review, according to a statement from Raj Bhavan on Friday (September 06) after receiving a “mandatory technical report” from the state government.

Earlier in the day, Chief Secretary Manoj Pant submitted the report to Governor Bose, who then reviewed it and forwarded the bill to the President, a Raj Bhavan official told PTI.

Raj Bhavan’s media team shared on X, “Bengal Governor refers Aparajita Bill for consideration of the President on receipt of a mandatory technical report from the Govt of Bengal, Governor has referred the Aparajita Bill for consideration of the President.”

The West Bengal Assembly had passed the Aparajita Woman and Child Bill (West Bengal Criminal Laws and Amendment) Bill, 2024, on September 3.

The bill seeks death penalty for those convicted of rape if the victim dies or is left in a vegetative state. Other offenders would face life imprisonment without parole.
Governor Bose had earlier criticised the state government for not submitting the mandatory technical report along with the bill, delaying the approval process.

Raj Bhavan also expressed frustration over the Assembly and Secretariat’s failure to provide the necessary debate records and their translation, as per legal requirements, the official added.
“Now, the ‘Aparajita’ Bill will join the lot of similar other Bills pending with the President from Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh,” he told PTI.

In a statement issued on Friday by Raj Bhavan, the Governor raised concerns about the "omissions and commissions in the hurriedly passed bill.

" He warned the government not to rush, adding, "Don’t act in haste and repent at leisure."

The Governor said that people are demanding justice for the trainee doctor and passing the bill in parliament is not enough.

He pressed the state government to take stronger action, adding that there were "glaring defects and lapses in the bill."

"The Governor said that people can not wait till the bill is implemented.

They want justice and justice should be given to them within the framework of the existing law.

The government should act effectively, people should get justice.

It is the government’s duty to wipe the tears of the bereaved mother who lost her dear daughter," the Raj Bhavan statement said.
The anti-rape bill was introduced following the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar hospital on August 9.