Starting July 1, three new criminal laws have come into effect, reshaping the legal landscape in India by replacing the British-era criminal laws. Just hours after the three new criminal laws took effect on Monday, the first FIR was registered at the Kamla Market police station in Delhi. The three new criminal laws, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, replacing the colonial criminal laws, i.e the IPC, CPC, and the IEA are aimed at speeding up the justice while also countering acts of terrorism in the country.
One of the key features of the bill is the new criminal law bills have new provisions under which the government has made Trafficking laws gender-neutral. Essentially, the new laws include a definition of terrorism for the first time in the history of India, assuring that no individual takes advantage of its lack. Furthermore, the law would also ensure promptness in case hearings.
As the laws take effect today, all 17500 police stations across the country will hold a special event involving women, youth, students, senior citizens, and eminent personalities to apprise them of the key features of the new criminal laws.
However, to create an environment of chaos in the country, Congress and TMC have condemned the ruling government for bulldozing the laws in the parliament without proper debate and discussion when in the last session nearly 146 MPs were suspended from Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. INDI Alliance is all set to lead to a stormy scene in Parliament today while it has demanded the ruling government to pause the implementation of the three criminal laws.
Meanwhile, The first FIR under the new criminal laws has been registered under Section 285 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against a street vendor for obstruction under the foot-over bridge of New Delhi Railway Station. The Special Commissioner of Police, Chhaya Sharma told news agency ANI that FIRs will be registered under these new sections from today onwards. One of the key points of the latest criminal laws is that they focus on digital evidence and emphasize the role of forensic experts. BYTE, VIDEO2: Special Commissioner of Police, Chhaya Sharma: start to end
Notably, the three new criminal laws- the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) — were passed in Parliament last year during the Winter Session. While passing the law, Home Minister Amit Shah said the sanhitas represented Laws that have been framed by Indians and for Indians, replacing the laws going on since the British ruled India.
The Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita has a total of 358 sections, down from 511 sections under the Indian Penal Code. Under the new criminal laws, 21 new crimes have been added, the duration of imprisonment has been extended for 41 crimes, fines for 82 crimes have been increased, “minimum punishment” has been introduced for 25 crimes, and community service has also been introduced as penalty in six crimes.
Comments