The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Call for debate on draft of Communal Crimes Bill

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Call for debate on draft of Communal Crimes Bill

Special Correspondent

Bangalore: Advocates and civil society activists have demanded that the draft of the Communal Crimes Bill, 2008, which has been “kept in cold storage” by the United Progressive Alliance Government for eight months, be placed for public debate.

Speaking at a discussion here on Thursday, organised by the Alternative Law Forum, Saumya Uma, advocate and coordinator of ICC-India campaign, said that the draft was submitted by civil society groups in January. This was after the Communal Violence (Prevention, Control and Rehabilitation of Victims) Bill, 2005, which focused on enhancing the powers of the State and Central governments in dealing with communal violence, was rejected by civil society groups.

Giving such powers would be counter-productive since violence often happens with “state complicity”, she pointed out.

Tracing the history of the law, Ms. Uma said that the demand for a law on communal violence had emerged from the record of recurring violence in India and the complete absence of specific laws to deal with mass crimes, especially communal violence. The focus of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) is on “individual crimes” and not “mass crimes”, she added.

The draft bill submitted by the civil society groups, Ms. Uma said, pays special attention to enhancing the accountability of public officials.

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