The Lok Sabha, on Wednesday, passed three bills to replace the colonial-era criminal laws by voice vote. The three redrafted bills —the Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Bill—were introduced in the Lok Sabha by Union Home Minister Amit Shah last week.
These bills will replace the Indian Penal Code-1860, the Code of Criminal Procedure Act-1898, and the Indian Evidence Act of 1872, respectively.
Replying to a debate on the bills in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, Shah said the proposed laws were framed after comprehensive consultations and that he had gone through every comma and full stop of the draft legislations before bringing them before the House for approval.
Home Minister said, “For poor, the biggest challenge to get justice is the financial challenge. For years ‘Tareekh pe tareekh’ keep going. Police hold the judicial system responsible. The government holds the police and judiciary responsible. The police and judiciary hold the government responsible for the delay. Now, we have made many things clear in the new laws”.
He said the existing criminal laws were reflective of the colonial mindset with the intention to punish and not impart justice. “The three new bills seek to establish a justice system based on Indian thinking… The three proposed criminal laws will free people from colonial mindset and its symbols,” Shah said, before the Lok Sabha passed the bills by voice vote.
“I have not only read every line of proposed criminal laws but have gone through every comma, full stop and held 158 meetings,” he added. Amit Shah said, “In CrPC there were 484 sections, now there will be 531 sections in it. Changes have been made in 177 sections and 9 new sections have been added. 39 new sub-sections have been added. 44 new provisions have been added”.
“In the law that is going to be repealed, the punishments for looting the government treasury, uprooting railway tracks, and insulting the British crown were previously kept. Now, priority has been given to crime against women and children, its impact on human body, and security of the country. Then there are military, election and currency laws,” said Home Minister.
