Center works towards bringing anti-lynching law

The draft law that is going to be submitted tomorrow has recommended life imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5 lakhs in case of death of the person because of lynching.

People paticipate in a silent protest against the ongoing lynching incidents in Bengaluru. The protest is a part of #NotInMyName campaign going on in different parts of the country. (Photo | Pushkar V)

NEW DELHI: To curb the increasing incidents of mob violence and lynching in the country, Centre government has begun the process of bringing in an anti-lynching law and has called its first meeting on Saturday.

A centre appointed special panel headed by Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba will chair the first meeting with advocate Anas Tanvir and social activist Tehseen Poonawalla, one of the petitioners in the apex court, which had earlier this month recommended to the Parliament to draft a law on this.

Confirming about the meeting, advocate Anas Tanvir, who appeared for Poonwala in the apex court in the mob lynching case told TNIE, "We are going to give the draft presentation of the law that we have been working for over a year to the government. We are hoping that this new law will finally see the ray of the light of the day."

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According to the draft law that Tanvir is going to submit tomorrow has recommended life imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5 lakhs in case of death of the person because of the lynching and making the offence cognisable and non-bailable.

The draft presentation of the law also states the duty of the Police officer he/she should do once any case of mob violence comes to their knowledge and in case of dereliction of their duty - imprisonment of six months and a fine of Rs 50,000 is proposed.

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"It shall be the duty and responsibility of the state government for making arrangements for the protection of victims, and witnesses against any kind of intimidation, coercion or inducement or violence or threats of violence," the draft stated.

The panel of the Home Secretary will take note of the presentations from all the stakeholders in the case and will submit its suggestions to the Home ministry within four weeks. Following this, the committee headed by Rajnath Singh would take over.

The Group of Ministers (GoM) will deliberate on the suggestions made by the committee of bureaucrats and it will then submit a report to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on measures to be taken against lynching and mob violence.

The development comes a week after the Supreme Court asked the Central government to enact a law to deal with incidents of lynching and take action on mob violence. The latest incident of lynching was reported from Rajasthan's Alwar district where a 28-year-old Rakbar Khan was lynched allegedly on the suspicion of cow smuggling.

On July 17, the apex court had made the Centre and the state governments accountable for mob violence and lynching, and asked them to take steps to curb and stop disseminating irresponsible and explosive messages and videos on social media platforms which incite such incidents.