West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee addressed Prime Minister Narendra Modi in her second letter concerning the tragic murder-rape of a female doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.
CM Banerjee expressed frustration over the lack of adequate legislative response to her previous appeal for stronger laws to combat crimes against women. Although she received a reply from the Minister of Women and Child Development, Banerjee criticized it for not adequately addressing the seriousness of the issue.
The Minister's letter highlighted shortcomings in the state's initiatives to ensure the safety of women and children. In response, CM Banerjee outlined several state-led efforts:
- The West Bengal government has sanctioned 10 exclusive Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) courts.
- The state operates 88 Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) and 62 POCSO-designated courts, funded by state resources.
- Emergency helplines, including 112 and 1098, are functioning effectively, with Dial 100 also widely used for urgent situations.
Additionally, Banerjee requested the Government of India to intervene regarding appointing presiding officers for the FTSCs. She highlighted that current guidelines require only retired judicial officers to be appointed, whereas high courts advocate for permanent judicial officers. To address this, Banerjee urged the Centre to conduct an exam for the appointment process, ensuring a more effective judicial oversight in handling such critical cases.