The Centre has decided to withdraw the three criminal codes that it had introduced in the Parliament in August 2023, and replace them with three new bills that incorporate the suggestions of a parliamentary committee. The move is seen as a major reform in the Indian legal system, as it aims to modernize and streamline the criminal laws that have been in force since the colonial era.
The three criminal codes that the Centre had proposed were the Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, 2023, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Bill, 2023, and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) Bill, 2023. These bills sought to replace the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, the Indian Penal Code, 1860, and the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, respectively. The bills were referred to the department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs on August 18, 2023, for consideration.
The committee, headed by Congress MP Anand Sharma, submitted its reports along with its recommendations on November 10, 2023. The committee suggested several changes to the bills, such as removing the provision of sedition, decriminalizing defamation, enhancing the punishment for offences against women, and allowing voluntary euthanasia for terminally ill patients.
Based on the recommendations of the committee, the Union Home Minister Amit Shah informed the Lok Sabha on Monday that the Centre has decided to withdraw the three criminal codes and introduce three new bills in their place. He said that the new bills will reflect the changes suggested by the committee and will also incorporate the feedback received from various stakeholders, such as the judiciary, the bar associations, the civil society, and the public.
The new bills are expected to be introduced in the Parliament soon. The Centre hopes that the new bills will bring about a comprehensive and progressive overhaul of the criminal laws in the country, and ensure that they are in tune with the contemporary needs and challenges of the society. The Centre also claims that the new bills will enhance the efficiency, fairness, and accountability of the justice system, and will uphold the constitutional values of the country.
