• By Mayukh Debnath
  • Sat, 24 Feb 2024 05:17 PM (IST)
  • Source:JND
Add as a preferred

New Criminal Laws: The newly enacted Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023, which seek to replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), 1973, and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 respectively, will come into force across the country from July 1 this year. The Centre has issued three separate notifications to this effect.

The three laws were passed by the Parliament on December 21 last year. President Droupadi Murmu accorded her assent to the legislations four days later, on December 25. The debate on the key legislations did not see participation from most Opposition parties, as 97 of their members were suspended from the Lok Sabha for 'misconduct' ahead of the passage of the now-enacted bills during the last Winter Session.

ALSO READ: UP Police Recruitment Exam 2023 Cancelled Amid Protest By Aspirants Over Paper Leak; Re-Examination Within 6 Months

The new set of laws is aimed at the complete overhaul of the prevailing criminal justice system in the country. In his reply to the debate on the proposed legislations, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had said the revised criminal laws would prove to be a big step towards speedy justice. Referring to a popular line from a Bollywood movie, he said 'tareekh pe tareekh' has been a bane of criminal justice system.

ALSO READ: BJP Takes 'Chor Chor Mausere Bhai' Swipe After AAP, Congress Finalise Seat-Sharing Deal In Delhi, Other States

"Now the accused will get seven days to file a plea for acquittal. The judge has to hold the hearing in those seven days and in a maximum time of 120 days, the case would come to trial. There was no time limit for plea bargaining earlier. Now, if one accepts their crime within 30 days of the crime then the punishment would be less.There was no provision to present documents during trials. We have made it compulsory to produce all documents within 30 days. No delays will be made in that," Shah had stated.

(With inputs from ANI)