Three new criminal laws—the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam—were implemented nationwide today, July 1, replacing the colonial-era Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, and Indian Evidence Act. Passed by Parliament in December
Three new criminal laws the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam were implemented nationwide Today (July 1). These laws will supersede the colonial-era Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, and Indian Evidence Act, respectively.
The Parliament passed these laws in December of last year. Despite receiving Presidential assent that same month, their implementation was postponed by the Union Government. On February 24, the Government announced that the laws would take effect on July 1.
The first FIR (First Information Report) under the new criminal laws has been registered Today at Delhi’s Kamla Market Police Station against a street vendor. The case was filed under Section 285 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, for obstructing a footbridge at the New Delhi Railway Station.
There are widespread concerns within the legal community regarding the new laws, with several prominent legal experts, State Bar Councils, and Bar Associations expressing their opposition. The Bar Council of India has assured the legal community that it would communicate these concerns to the Union Government. The Bar Council proposed forming an expert committee to review the new laws and urged lawyers to refrain from protests and demonstrations against their implementation.
Moreover, the Supreme Court of India has declined to entertain two PILs challenging the new laws. One petition was dismissed because it was filed before the new laws came into effect, while the other was rejected due to poor drafting.
Here are the newly effective Criminal Laws:
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
The Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023
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