The Central Government issued a notification on Friday (February 24) to implement all three new criminal laws from July 1, 2024. The three new criminal laws are the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshaya Act. All three new criminal laws will replace the Indian Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Code and Evidence Act. All three new criminal justice bills were approved by President Droupadi Murmu in December. With this, these three new bills became laws. This includes the Indian Judicial Code, Indian Civil Code and Indian Evidence Act. After the issuance of the notification, now these three new criminal laws will replace the old laws.
The main objective of these three laws is to change the criminal justice system in the country which has running on laws dating back to the British era. The crime of sedition has been abolished in these laws. A new section of committing crimes against the state has been included in it. In this new law, crimes like armed rebellion, subversive activities, crimes endangering sovereignty or unity, separatist activities have been included in treason.
Under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, if anyone verbally, in writing or symbolically promotes such activities or even attempts to harm unity and integrity, then there is a provision for life imprisonment. Apart from this, the provision of penalty has also been included in the new law. In these new laws, mob lynching, that is, when a group of 5 or more people together kills on the basis of caste or community etc., then every member of the group will be given life imprisonment. Under the new laws, those guilty of raping a minor can now be given death sentence. Home Minister Amit Shah had also called mob lynching a heinous crime and had talked about the provision of death penalty in the new laws for this crime in the Parliament.
Apart from this, in the new law, terrorist acts, which were earlier part of special laws like Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, have now been included in the Indian Judicial Code. At the same time, provisions have been made in the new laws to crack down on small organized crimes like pickpocketing. Along with such crimes, provisions have also been made in the new law to deal with organized crime. Earlier, states had their own laws to deal with such organized crimes. It is pertinent to note that the Indian Civil Defense (Second) Code 2023 (Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita) will replace the Criminal Procedure Code 1973 (CrPC). CrPC is for arrest, prosecution and bail. The Indian Evidence (Second) Bill 2023 (BSB2) (Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam) will replace the Indian Evidence Act 1872. Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 replaces the Indian Penal Code, 1860.
