Andhra Pradesh Approves ‘Disha Bill’, Puts 21-Day Deadline For Judgements In Rape Cases

On November 27, a female veterinary doctor was sexually assaulted, killed and set ablaze in Telangana. On December 6, all 4 men accused of the crime were killed in an encounter by the cops near Chatanpally underpass. In the wake of this horrific crime, the Andhra Pradesh Cabinet has approved two bills to ensure victims get justice in a swift manner.

According to Hindustan Times, the cabinet approved the Andhra Pradesh Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2019 or ‘Andhra Pradesh Disha Bill’ which reduces the timeline for judgements in cases of conclusive evidence from 4 months to 3 weeks.

Two weeks after the nation was rocked by horrific gang-rape and murder of a woman veterinarian in #Hyderabad, #AndhraPradesh cabinet on Dec 11 decided to table a #Bill in the Assembly to punish perpetrators of heinous crimes against women and children within 21 days.

Photo: IANS pic.twitter.com/UCCxveA50h

— IANS Tweets (@ians_india) December 11, 2019

NDTV quoted Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy saying,

“The investigation should be completed within a week and trial should be over within two weeks. Within 21 working days, the perpetrators should be hanged.”

The bill which will be introduced in the state assembly today to become an act, also specifies the death penalty and filing of Zero FIR irrespective of jurisdiction.

The Times of India reports that the second bill, Andhra Pradesh Special Court for Specified Offences against Women and Children Bill, 2019, will seek to set up fast-track courts for cases of sexual offences against women and children.

It proposes 2-4 years imprisonment for social media harassment cases and 14 years-lifetime jail term for sexual crimes against children. Earlier, these were tried under the IT Act and PoCSO respectively.

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