COMMUNAL VIOLENCE BILL REWRITTEN

COMMUNAL VIOLENCE BILL REWRITTEN

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August 12, 2022

The law ministry has rewritten the widely criticised Communal Violence Bill, prepared by the home ministry. Reports say that the new Bill, currently being vetted by the home ministry, incorporated most of the demands made by activists. If the bill passes into law, it will fundamentally alter criminal jurisprudence on communal violence, bringing it in line with the international convention on genocide. Just for illustration, it means that a Narendra Modi can be brought to book in future should there be a repetition of the 2002 Gujarat riots or Sajjan Kumar would face speedy trial for a 1984-like anti-Sikh riots.

Harsh Mander and Farah Naqvi have submitted a memorandum to law minister Veerappa Moily listing the amendments they would like in the bill, likely to be introduced in the next session of Parliament.