Maharashtra Government Reviews Shakti Act After Centre Raises Concerns
Maharashtra Government Reviews Shakti Act After Centre Raises Concerns
The Maharashtra government has initiated a review of the proposed Shakti Act, following concerns raised by the Centre regarding its relevance in light of three new criminal laws enacted in July. The state’s home, law, and judiciary departments are examining the necessity of implementing the act, designed to prevent crimes against women and children.
The Shakti Act, modelled after the Disha Act of Andhra Pradesh, proposes amendments to the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act . The Act aims to provide stronger protections for women and children, including stricter punishment for crimes such as rape and acid attacks.
However, critics argue that certain provisions in the Act may be counterproductive. For instance, the presumption of consent clause may negate the offence of rape, while the death penalty may reduce conviction rates and deter reporting . Women’s rights activists have urged the state government to retain any provisions that offer stronger protections than the central laws.
Former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh has demanded the clearance and implementation of the Shakti bill, citing the need for harsher punishment for atrocities against children and women . The bill was approved by the cabinet headed by Uddhav Thackeray and passed in the state legislature but remains pending before the Central government for approval.
The review process is expected to take several weeks, as officials compare the provisions of both sets of laws to determine what additional protections, if any, the state’s Shakti Act offers beyond the scope of the new central laws .
