WEST BENGAL (PREVENTION OF LYNCHING) BILL, 2019

Aug. 31, 2019

The West Bengal Legislative Assembly passed the West Bengal (Prevention of Lynching) Bill, 2019 to prevent and punish incidents of mob assaults and lynching.

About: 

  • Nodal officers will be appointed who shall “monitor and coordinate prevention of lynching”.

  • It proposes a jail term from three years to life for those involved in assaulting and injuring a person.

  • In the event of the victim’s death, the perpetrators can be punished with death sentence or rigorous life imprisonment.

  • The Bill, while defining terms like “lynching” and “mob”, also says that a West Bengal Lynching Compensation Scheme may be framed under this legislation.

  • The bill was passed in the aftermath of a string of incidents of people getting beaten to death over rumours of cattle smuggling and child theft.