Kolkata: In response to Banerjee’s second letter just hours after sending it on Friday, the Centre chastised her allegations, saying that they have done enough and cannot overstep their boundaries of central legislation. The Centre, which was represented by Union Minister for Women and Child Development Annapurna Devi, upheld the view that laws currently in force are tough enough to deal with violence and crimes against women. Devi elaborated that she was factually wrong in claiming that the current measures are insufficient and thought that the letter was written just to hide the utter failure in setting up the FTSCs in West Bengal.
Devi underlined the fact that the state government had not set into motion the other eleven FTSCs, which were planned to dispose of cases of rape and POCSO in particular. Such specialized courts are very important for the effective disposal of the cases, but they remain non-operational, all thanks to the blessings of the West Bengal state government; meanwhile, 48,600 rape and POCSO cases await their turn. Devi accused the West Bengal government of not fulfilling its responsibilities; thus, it was implied that Banerjee’s letters were just an attempt to cover it up.
The letter from Mamata Banerjee came after anger against the savage rape and murder of a female train doctor, 31, at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, on August 9. Banerjee had, in her letter, even highlighted the need for provisions relating to the time frame within which such cases should be disposed of; she reiterated the need for operating FTSCs.
Devi’s response also dispelled Banerjee’s concerns about permanent judicial officers in FTSCs, the scheme guidelines having been effected to accommodate one permanent judicial officer and seven other employees to handle only rape and POCSO cases. This response also sheds more light on the continuing struggle between state and central governments in dealing with critical crime cases and implementing new judicial measures.
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