Lok Sabha clears 3 new criminal laws by majority present

Lok Sabha has passed the Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, 2023 bill, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita, 2023 and Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Bill (BSB) 2023. Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke on the criminal bills and majority of MPs present in the Lower House voted in favour of the bills.

Referring to IPC, CrPc, Indian Evidence Act, Shah said, “New criminal law bills will free people from colonial mindset..The three laws were made during the time of English..Till the laws are not repealed, the UK laws will continue in the country… Her Majesty, London Gazette, British Crown and barrister terms continue to be used in India because of the laws.”

Around 150 meetings held by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and 3,200 suggestions received from 18 states, six Union Territories, the Supreme Court of India, 16 High Courts, 27 judicial academies, several MPs and bureaucrats – the mammoth exercise to decolonise India’s criminal justice system crossed the Lok Sabha hurdle on Wednesday with the Lower House passing three key bills to replace the British-era IPC, CrPC and the Evidence Act.

The focus of the Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Bill, Amit Shah said, is on delivering speedy justice rather than handing down punishment. The legislations have a clear definition of terrorism and scrap sedition as a crime while introducing a new section titled “offences against the State”.

The bills set timeline for initiating criminal proceedings, arrests, investigations, filing of chargesheets, proceedings before magistrates, trial, bail, judgment, and mercy petition, among others. One of the sections also emphasises on wrapping up cases within 45 days.