The Maharashtra Cabinet on Wednesday approved the introduction of two draft bills in a bid to curb the incidents of violence and atrocities against woman and children in Maharashtra. The bills were approved in a State Cabinet meeting presided by Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray.

The “Maharashtra Shakti Criminal Law (Maharashtra Amendment) Bill, 2020” has been drafted along the lines of the Andhra Pradesh Disha Act Criminal Law (AP Amendment) Act, 2019. Once passed by the state legislature it will be called the “Shakti Act”.

The second draft bill, which is for the implementation of the Shakti legislation, is named as Special Court and Machinery for Implementation of Maharashtra Criminal Law, 2020.

“Today the Cabinet discussed the Shati Act, and cleared the draft bill to amend sections of Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. The two draft bills will be tabled in the State Legislature during the winter session next week. Once the State Legislature approves the two drafts, we will send it to the Centre for Presidential assent,” Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said.

“This draft talks about death punishment for offenders of heinous crimes against Women and Children,” he said.

Yashomati Thakur, Women and Child Development Minister said:” It’s historic decision. This law will help us protect women and children of our State.”

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