The Rajasthan Assembly on August 5, 2019 passed two separate Bills against mob lynching and honour killing.
‘The Rajasthan Protection from Lynching Bill, 2019’ makes stringent provisions of punishment and penalties for these offences that were made cognisable and non-bailable.
While honour killing will be punishable with death sentence, those convicted of lynching will be punished with life imprisonment and a fine of up to RS. 5 lakh.
Rajasthan has become the second State after Manipur to have a dedicated legislation that criminalises mob lynching as a special offence. The Manipur Assembly had passed a similar Bill in December 2018.
The Bill provides for appointment of a nodal officer of the rank of Inspector-General of Police (IG) to prevent lynchings and establishment of relief camps in safe zones for the victims.
The bill defines lynching as an act of violence, whether spontaneous or planned, by a mob on the grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth, language, dietary practices, sexual orientation, political affiliation and ethnicity.
