Page 3 - Criminal Law Act

Three laws replacing IPC, CrPC, Evidence Act to be effective from July 1

The MHA made the announcement through three separate notifications declaring July 1 as the date on which the provisions of these acts will come into force

UGC directs varsities, HEIs to publicise new criminal laws, dispel 'myths'

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has directed universities and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) across the country to publicise the new criminal laws and dispel "myths" surrounding them. Among the "myths" cited by the UGC are that the new laws "threaten" individual freedom and aim to establish a "police state", that sedition provisions have been retained under 'Deshdroh' and that these legislations enable "police torture". In its communication to the universities and HEIs, the UGC has also sent flayers mentioning these myths and truths. UGC Secretary Manish Joshi said, "The Higher Educational Institutions have been requested to publicise the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 around the themes contained in the flyers and by carrying out campaigns by way of displays through standees, distributing flyers and organizing seminars and talks by lawyers, judges both serving and retired and their respective faculties in their institutions." The HEIs have also been asked to share the .

Laws framed today will further strengthen India of tomorrow: PM Modi

'Today's economic policies of India will form the basis of tomorrow's bright India. The laws being made in India today will further strengthen tomorrow's bright India,' the prime minister said

NewsClick's HR head withdraws plea in SC against arrest under UAPA

NewsClick's human resources department head Amit Chakravarty on Monday withdrew from the Supreme Court his petition against his arrest under the anti-terror law, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Earlier this month, a Delhi court had allowed Chakravarty to turn an approver in the case lodged against the news portal under UAPA over allegations that it received money to spread pro-China propaganda. The separate pleas filed by Chakravarty and NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha against their arrest under the anti-terror law came up for hearing before a bench headed by Justice B R Gavai. An advocate appearing in the matter requested the bench, also comprising Justices Sanjay Karol and Sandeep Mehta, that Chakravarty be allowed to withdraw his plea. "Let him withdraw if he wants to withdraw," Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, representing the Delhi Police, told the bench, while responding to the lawyer's prayer. The bench allowed Chakravarty to withdraw the plea.

New criminal laws, terror in JK to be discussed at DGPs meet; PM to attend

Implementation of the three criminal laws enacted recently, activities of pro-Khalistani groups and terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir are among the key issues to be discussed at a three-day conference of DGPs and IGPs in Jaipur beginning January 5, officials said on Thursday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with the country's top police officers before addressing them at a formal session while Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be present throughout the conference that will span several sessions. Issues to be handled during the general elections, cyber crime, Maoists' problem, and inter-state police coordination are some of the other major topics expected to be discussed during the meeting, a Union Home Ministry official said. About 250 officers in the rank of Director General of Police (DGP) and Inspector General of Police (IGP) will physically attend the conference at the Rajasthan International Centre in Jaipur while more than 200 others are likely to participate ...

Delhi Police form committee to study recently passed Criminal Law Bills

The committee is tasked with preparing course material for Investigating Officers to gain a practical understanding and study the new provisions and changes in procedures

Govt assures discussion on new law, urges drivers to end protest: AIMTC

Truckers' body All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) on Tuesday said the government has assured that new laws concerning hit-and-run cases will be implemented after discussion with its members and urged truck drivers to call off their strike. A government source said that the issue has been resolved after the meeting with Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla on Tuesday evening. "The issue has been resolved," the source said, while stressing that the new provisions under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) have not been implemented yet. AIMTC representatives met Union Home Secretary in the evening to discuss the new law on hit-and-run cases that proposes stringent up to 10 years jail term and Rs 7 lakh fine. The meeting was held against the background of some truck, bus and tanker operators beginning a three-day strike on Monday against the stringent jail and fine regulations under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) for hit-and-run cases. The punishment in such cases was 2 years in the

Petition filed in SC against new criminal laws passed by Parliament

A petition challenging the enactment of three new sets of law that seek to overhaul India's penal codes has been filed in the Supreme Court, claiming they suffered from many "defects and discrepancies". The Lok Sabha had on December 21 passed three key legislations -- the Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita, and the Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Bills. President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to the bills on December 25. These new laws-the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya Act-will replace the Indian Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Indian Evidence Act. While seeking a stay on the operation of the three laws, the PIL filed by advocate Vishal Tiwari said they were enacted without any parliamentary debate as most of the opposition members were under suspension. The plea has sought directions from the court to immediately constitute an expert committee to assess the viabil

MHA tackles violence in Manipur, brings in new criminal laws in 2023

Tackling challenges like ethnic violence in Manipur and sporadic terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir while taking landmark steps in overhauling the British-era criminal justice laws and signing peace pacts with insurgent outfits in the Northeast, the year 2023 was a mixed bag for the Ministry of Home Affairs. A long-delayed peace agreement with the pro-talks faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) at the fag-end of the year has given a firm indication that the Home Minister Amit Shah-led ministry is serious about resolving the problems that have affected the Northeast for decades and claimed many lives. A major crisis came to the fore on May 3 when ethnic violence erupted in Manipur after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts of the Northeastern state to protest against the majority Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe status. At least 180 people were killed in violence that continued for months. Shah visited the state for four ...

Jurists point to disastrous consequences of new criminal justice laws: Cong

The Congress on Monday said many jurists have pointed out the "disastrous consequences" of the three criminal justice laws which were "bulldozed" through Parliament aided by the "deliberate suspension" of over 140 INDIA bloc MPs. President Droupadi Murmu Monday gave assent to the criminal justice bills, turning them into laws. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya Act will replace the colonial-era Indian Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Indian Evidence Act of 1872. In a post on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "The three criminal justice bills bulldozed through Parliament last week, aided by the deliberate suspension of 146 INDIA MPs, have now received Presidential assent." "Many eminent lawyers and jurists have already pointed out its disastrous consequences, especially for the most marginalised sections of the society," he said. On a lighter note, the most widely known Section 420 of the ..

Telecommunications, 3 criminal justice Bills get President Murmu's assent

President Droupadi Murmu on Monday gave assent to the three new criminal justice bills which were cleared by Parliament last week. The three new laws -- the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya Act -- will replace the colonial era Indian Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Indian Evidence Act of 1872. While replying to a debate on the three bills in Parliament, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had said the focus were on delivering justice rather than handing down punishment. The legislation aim at completely overhauling the criminal justice system in the country by giving definition of various offences and their punishments. These have given a clear definition of terrorism, abolished sedition as a crime and introduced a new section titled "offenses against the state".

New criminal Bills mark end of colonial-era laws, watershed moment: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday hailed the passage of three criminal justice bills that will replace as many colonial-era acts as a watershed moment in India's history, and said it marked the beginning of a new era with laws centered on public service and welfare. "Through them, we have also bid goodbye to the outdated sections on sedition," he said on X after Parliament gave its nod to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam. These bills will replace the Indian Penal Code-1860, the Code of Criminal Procedure-1898 and the Indian Evidence Act of 1872, respectively. "These bills mark the end of colonial-era laws. A new era begins with laws centered on public service and welfare," the prime minister said. He added, "These transformative Bills are a testament to India's commitment to reform. They bring our legal, policing, and investigative systems into the modern era with a focus on technology and forensic science. .

New criminal laws get Parliament nod, RS passes Bills with voice vote

Three new bills that seek to overhaul the colonial-era criminal laws, making punishments more stringent for crimes such as terrorism, lynching, and offences endangering national security, were approved by Parliament on Thursday. The bills were passed in the Rajya Sabha by voice vote. The Lok Sabha had approved these on Wednesday. The bills that repeal and replace the Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure and the Indian Evidence Act will usher in a new era in the criminal justice system, Home Minister Amit Shah said while replying to a debate in the Upper House of Parliament. The Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Bills will now go to the president for her assent, upon which these will become laws. Just like in the Lok Sabha, the legislations were passed in the Rajya Sabha in the absence of most opposition MPs, who were suspended for unruly behaviour while pressing for a discussion on the December

Rajya Sabha takes up discussion on bills to replace IPC, CrPC, Evidence Act

The bills were moved for consideration and passing in the House by Home Minister Amit Shah

Doctors to get exemption from prosecution in negligence cases: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the Centre plans to amend the Criminal Law Bill to exempt doctors from criminal prosecution in cases of deaths due to medical negligence

Opportunity to replace, redraft colonial criminal laws wasted: Chidambaram

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Thursday criticised the three key bills brought by the government that seek to overhaul the criminal justice system, saying the opportunity to replace and redraft the colonial laws has been "wasted". The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed three key bills -- the Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Bill -- that seek to overhaul the criminal justice system. In a post on X, former home minister Chidambaram said, "Has the government really dumped the British 'colonial' criminal laws? Consider the fact that 90-95% of IPC, 95% of CrPC and 99% of Evidence Act have been cut, copied and pasted in the three Bills: can any one deny or debate that fact?" "In fact, the government has immortalised Macaulay and Fitz Stephen who drafted the original IPC and Evidence Act," he claimed. The opportunity to replace and redraft the laws has been wasted, Chidambaram said. The three bills will

Winter Session: 3 new Bills to replace criminal laws to be placed before RS

Replying to the debate on three Bills on Wednesday, Home Minister Shah said their passage will be a big step towards the deliverance of speedy justice

Lok Sabha passes 3 criminal law Bills to replace colonial-era laws

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. 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

Amit Shah to move three amended bills on criminal laws in Lok Sabha

The three bills that were introduced in the Lok Sabha on the last day of Parliament's Monsoon Session aiming to revamp the criminal justice system have been withdrawn by the government

Govt replaces 'mental illness' with 'unsound mind' in 3 criminal law bills

The government has introduced the term "unsound mind" in place of "mental illness", on the recommendations of a parliamentary panel, in the redrafted criminal law bills that seek to replace the British-era Indian Penal Code, CrPC and Indian Evidence Act. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill was first introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 11, along with the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam bills. The proposed laws used the term "mental illness" with meaning assigned to it in clause (a) of section 2 of the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs, headed by BJP MP Brijlal, had recommended that the word "mental illness" in the proposed laws may be changed to "unsound mind" as mental illness is too wide in its import in comparison to unsound mind, as it appears to include even mood swings or voluntary intoxication within its ambit. The panel made the observations in its report prepared after examining the propos