U.P. Law Commission pushes for life term in lynching cases
10:17AM Fri 12 Jul, 2019
Taking cognisance of incidents of mob lynching, including those by cow vigilantes, the Uttar Pradesh Law Commission has submitted a draft Bill recommending up to life imprisonment for the crime.
Commission chairman Justice (retired) A.N. Mittal submitted a report on mob lynching, along with the draft Bill, to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday.
The 128-page report cited various cases of lynching in the State and recommended immediate enactment of a law as per recommendations made by the Supreme Court in 2018. The commission said the existing laws to combat lynchings were not sufficient.
It recommended a punishment ranging from seven years to life imprisonment for the offence.
Suggesting that such a law may be called the Uttar Pradesh Combating of Mob Lynching Act, the commission specified the responsibilities of police officers and District Magistrates and spelt out the punishment for failing in their duty.
The panel said the law should also provide for compensation to the family of the victim for grievous injury or loss of life and property.
There should also be provisions for the rehabilitation of the victims and their families, it said.