President Droupadi Murmu signed three criminal legislation into law on Monday, replacing the Evidence Act, the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and the Indian Penal Code (IPC), according to news agency PTI. During the preceding turbulent Winter Session, in which 146 Opposition MPs were suspended, both Houses of Parliament passed the Bharatiya Sakshya Sanhita, 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita Bill, 2023, and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill, 2023.
The Lower House of Parliament first presented the three acts on August 11, 2023. However, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs’ suggested modifications prompted the administration to decide earlier this month to replace them with new ones.
The passage of the Bills was hailed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah as the “beginning of a new era,” stressing that the laws were designed to protect Indians’ human rights while giving them prompt justice.
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam have succeeded the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), and the Indian Evidence Act.
President Murmu gives assent to Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and Bharatiya Sakshya Bill
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 25, 2023
Instead of the IPC’s 511 sections, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita will have 358 sections. Twenty new offences have been included in the legislation, and the sentence of imprisonment for thirty-three of them has been increased. The mandatory minimum punishment has been imposed in 23 cases, while the fine has been increased in 83 cases. A community service penalty is now imposed for six offences, and 19 parts of the statute have been removed or repealed.
Instead of the 484 sections of the CrPC, Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita will have 531 sections. A total of 177 provisions have been added to the law, including 39 new subsections and nine new sections. There are forty-four new provisions and clarifications in the proposed act. Thirty-five locations have audio-video support, and thirty-five portions now have timelines. The law has had fourteen sections removed or repealed in total.
The original 167 clauses of Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam have been replaced by 170, and 24 parts have gone through amendments. Six provisions have been removed or repealed, while two new provisions and six sub provisions have been added to the legislation.
, and the Indian Penal Code (IPC), according to news agency PTI.){kind=link}