Amidst opposition from BJP, Jharkhand passes Mob Lynching Bill

Amidst opposition from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators, Jharkhand Legislative Assembly on Tuesday passed the Prevention of Mob Violence and Mob Lynching Bill, 2021, becoming the third state to do so after West Bengal and Rajasthan.

The Bill provides for a jail term ranging from three years to life imprisonment and a monetary fine of up to Rs 25 lakh against those involved in mob lynching, which could lead to injury or death of any individual.

The opposition BJP legislators demanded that the Bill be sent to the Select Committee for scrutiny.

The Bill provides for punishment for “conspiracy or abetment or attempt to lynch”; “obstructing legal process”; “dissemination of offensive material” and “enforcing a hostile environment”, besides compensation for the victims as per existing scheme of the state government.

The ruling alliance comprising Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) had made an electoral promise in 2019 that it would bring in such a law. Jharkhand has seen several cases of mob lynching.

During the debate on the Bill, BJP legislator Amit Mandal moved five amendments and said that the Bill was being brought in haste. He added that immense arbitrary powers were being given to the police and district magistrates under the law and feared its misuse against political opponents.

Anant Ojha, another BJP legislator claimed that the law was being brought to divert the attention from the government’s failures and was part of its appeasement policy.

Defending the Bill, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Alamgir Alam said that the Bill is in the light of the Supreme Court direction on the issue.