Farmers Movement Archive

Shakti Act to cover defamatory social media posts: Deshmukh

Nagpur: After making provisions for harshest punishment like death penalty and life imprisonment for perpetrators of heinous crimes against women and children, apart from bringing social media under the purview of the proposed Shakti Act, the new legislation would be a game-changer and prove to be deterrent, said Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh.The draft bill of Shakti Act also has provision for stricter punishment for offenders who post defamatory messages, including pictures of women, on social media. The bill, approved by the state cabinet on Wednesday, will be tabled in the forthcoming winter session of the state legislature, scheduled from December 14 in Mumbai.Speaking to the media on Thursday, the home minister said 36 special courts, each having a special public prosecutor, would be set up at the district level to deal with cases registered under the Act and a provision of Rs45 crore would be made for the purpose. These courts would be in addition to the existing fast track courts, set up to deal with cases related to crime against women, he said.“We’ve sought amendments to Section 354E of Indian Penal Code (IPC) to make a provision for two years jail for defaming women on social media by uploading their pictures. To prevent filing of false complaints by women, a provision for one year imprisonment has also been made, if the allegations are found to be untrue,” he said.The NCP leader added that the government has also sought to amend relevant provisions of IPC, Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for making the new legislation tougher against criminals.“The perpetrators of crimes like gang rape would face life imprisonment and also hefty fine. The proposed law also stipulates completion of trial in 45 days, including 15 days for investigation and 30 days for trial. Earlier, the accused were granted two months to file an appeal, which too has been brought down to 45 days,” said Deshmukh.Deshmukh, MLA from Katol, had visited Andhra Pradesh with a team of senior officials from his department to study the Disha Act enacted by the state, on which the Shakti Act is modelled.“The Covid-19 pandemic has delayed the new law. We had invited suggestions from women legislators from all parties and women’s organizations for making the Act comprehensive. I would appeal all legislators across party lines to support this bill wholeheartedly,” said the home minister.Deshmukh, who is also NCP leader, hinted at the three major constituents of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) — NCP, Congress and Shiv Sena — contesting all forthcoming polls together after the stupendous success in the recent MLC elections, wherein the ruling alliance won four out of six seats against the BJP.Deshmukh slammed Union minister Raosaheb Danve, former Maharashtra BJP chief, over his “China and Pakistan behind farmers’ protest” claim, saying his remark was a “crude joke” on the protesting cultivators and an insult to them. “Such kind of statement is a crude joke on farmers, who have been agitating to demand repeal of three controversial farm laws introduced by the central government,” he said.# Deshmukh speaks:Cybercrime increasing in state, but govt’s social crime branch doing good jobPolice seeking help of IT experts to solve cybercrime casesEx-BJP state chief Raosaheb Danve’s comments against agitating farmers insensitiveDecision to fill up 12,500 posts in police dept in transparent manner historic5,298 posts to be filled up in first phase despite financial constraintsPolice caught perpetrators of crime against women at Raigad & JalgaonState govt committed to early implementation of Shakti Act

The Times of India

2020-12-11

Nagpur