New Delhi, Aug 11:
Three bills aimed at replacing British-era laws with a thrust on “justice instead of punishment” were introduced in Lok Sabha by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the last day of the monsoon session of Parliament.
The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 and The Bharatiya Sakshya Bill 2023 were introduced in the Lower House of Parliament. Amit Shah said that the bills are being referred to the Standing Committee for scrutiny.
While the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 seeks to replace IPC 1860, Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita 2023 seeks to replace Criminal Procedure Code and Bharatiya Sakshya Bill 2023 will replace the Indian Evidence Act, 1872.
Home Minister said that the bills are not aimed at giving punishment but rendering justice. He said the bills have been introduced after extensive consultations.
The key provisions of the legislation include repealing sedition, a new penal code against mob lynching, death for rape of minors and first-time community service as one of the punishments for petty offences.
The offences against women and children, murder and offences against the State have been given precedence. New offences of terrorist acts and organised crime have been added to the Bill with deterrent punishments.
New offences added on acts of secession, armed rebellion, subversive activities, separatist activities, or endangering sovereignty and unity of India and there is one-year imprisonment for bribing voters during elections.
The Bharatiya Sakshya Bill 2023 provides that ‘evidence’ includes any information given electronically, which would permit the appearance of witnesses, accused, experts and victims through electronic means.
It provides for admissibility of an electronic or digital record as evidence and it shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as paper records.
The Evidence Act was enacted in the year 1872 with a view to consolidating the law relating to evidence on which the court could come to a conclusion about the fact of the case and then pronounce judgment.
The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023 proposes to repeal the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.
It provides for the use of technology and forensic sciences in the investigation of crime and furnishing and lodging of information, and service of summons, through electronic communication.
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 seeks to repeal the Indian Penal Code to streamline provisions relating to offences and penalties. It is proposed to provide first-time community service as one of the punishments for petty offences.
