Uttar Pradesh law panel readies draft bill to curb mob lynching

Taking suo motu cognisance of about 50 cases of lynching and mob attacks in UP over the past five years, the State Law Commission has recommended to the UP government that a law be prepared to prevent lynching.

Along with a report on mob lynching, the panel has also submitted a draft of the Uttar Pradesh Combating Mob Lynching Bill to chief minister Yogi Adityanath.

Other than detailing action against perpetrators of lynching, the draft bill also recommends action against police and administration officials of the districts where such incidents take place.


State Law Commission secretary Sapna Tripathi told TOI that the Supreme Court had passed an order in 2018 asking the states and the Centre to frame rules to prevent lynchings but no state except Manipur had acted on it. “We studied laws on lynching across the world and framed the draft bill, which contains details on how lynchings can be prevented and how to exercise authority against a mob. Punishment has been specified depending on the result of the incident — injury or death. We have also recommended fixing liability on the police and the district magistrate for failing in their duty.” She said hate crimes have also been included in the purview of the draft bill.