Mumbai Mar 24 PTI The Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and Council on Thursday unanimously passed a bill that aims to establish special courts to ensure speedy trial of cases of crime against women and children under the Shakti Act State Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil tabled the bill titled The Maharashtra Exclusive Special Courts for certain offences against women and children under Shakti Law 2020 in both Houses of the legislature The bill has been introduced with an aim to conduct trials without delay in cases of certain offences against women and childrenAs per the bill exclusive special courts can be set up for hearing the cases or existing courts can be given that rank depending upon the situation Patil said in the Assembly While tabling the bill in the Council he said The Maharashtra government has already cleared the Shakti bill but it is pending before the Union Home Ministry and yet to reach the office of the President Meanwhile we need to make provisions and infrastructure available once the Shakti Act is promulgated The bill among other provisions provides for appointing special public prosecutor for conducting trials and forming special police teams to probe the offences It was first tabled in the House on December 14 2020 and sent to the joint select committee of the state legislature for discussion The Shakti Criminal Laws Maharashtra Amendment Bill which provides for stricter punishment including death penalty for crimes against women was passed unanimously by both the Houses of the legislature in December last yearPTI ENM NDGK GK

Nagpur Oct 22 PTI Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Friday inaugurated a Fast Track DNA Unit and Wildlife DNA Analysis department in Nagpur and said it will give probe agencies help with evidence to crack down on criminals The units have been set up by the state Home department as part of the Regional Forensic Assistant Scientific Laboratory in Rahate Colony here These laboratories will help speed up investigation in crimes against women and children and the one dedicated to wildlife will help curb killing of animals and ensure poachers and smugglers are caught the CM said State Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil speaking on the occasion said Maharashtra would soon get the stringent Shakti Act to ensure perpetrators of crimes against women and children are punished He said the state will pass the bill related to the legislation in the upcoming winter session of the Assembly The Wildlife DNA Analysis department will play a key role to ensure animals are protected he added PTI COR BNM BNM BNM