The Jharkhand Government has proposed a new anti-lynching law (Prevention of Mob Violence and Mob Lynching Bill, 2021) tabled in the ongoing winter session.
Context
The Jharkhand Government has proposed a new anti-lynching law (Prevention of Mob Violence and Mob Lynching Bill, 2021) tabled in the ongoing winter session.
Key-highlights of the Bill
- The draft bill offers:
- registration of FIR for disseminating "explosive and irresponsible" content
- free medical treatment of the victims
- punishment for the offenders for creating a 'hostile environment' for victims or the witnesses
- The maximum punishment, the Bill proposes, is life imprisonment and a fine of 25 lakhs for anyone found guilty of the offence.
|
Jharkhand will become the third state after West Bengal and Rajasthan anti-lynching laws.
|
What is mob lynching?
- Lynching means to illegally kill a person suspected of an offense without a trial, often by a public mob.
- Religious polarization and fake social media news are some of the drivers of increased lynching in India.
- In the last few years, mob lynching has almost become a national phenomenon.
Section 34 of IPC
- Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code deals with an offence which is committed by several persons in furtherance of common intention.
- Under this section, the individuals are charged when they are accused of having a pre-designed intention to commit an act, in this case -- lynching.
- Section 34 is not a substantive offence but is a rule of evidence.
|
