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Jharkhand’s new anti-lynching law

  • Posted By
    10Pointer
  • Categories
    Polity & Governance
  • Published
    18th Dec, 2021

Context

The Jharkhand Government has proposed a new anti-lynching law (Prevention of Mob Violence and Mob Lynching Bill, 2021) tabled in the ongoing winter session.

Key-highlights of the Bill

  • The draft bill offers:
    • registration of FIR for disseminating "explosive and irresponsible" content
    • free medical treatment of the victims
    • punishment for the offenders for creating a 'hostile environment' for victims or the witnesses
      • The maximum punishment, the Bill proposes, is life imprisonment and a fine of 25 lakhs for anyone found guilty of the offence.

Jharkhand will become the third state after West Bengal and Rajasthan anti-lynching laws.

What is mob lynching?

  • Lynching means to illegally kill a person suspected of an offense without a trial, often by a public mob. 
  • Religious polarization and fake social media news are some of the drivers of increased lynching in India. 
  • In the last few years, mob lynching has almost become a national phenomenon.

Section 34 of IPC

  • Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code deals with an offence which is committed by several persons in furtherance of common intention.
    • Under this section, the individuals are charged when they are accused of having a pre-designed intention to commit an act, in this case -- lynching.
  • Section 34 is not a substantive offence but is a rule of evidence. 

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