Three criminal bills replacing the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and the Evidence Act got assent from President Droupadi Murmu.
The Bharatiya Sakshya Sanhita, 2023, The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita Bill, 2023, and The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 were passed by both Houses of the Parliament during the recently-concluded Winter session.
The bills were passed through voice vote in Rajya Sabha amid the absence of over two-third Opposition MPs due to their mass suspension following their demand for a discussion on the December 13 Parliament security breach.
According to experts, the three new laws will make punishments more stringent for terrorism, lynching, and offences endangering national security.
Presenting the criminal bills in Rajya Sabha, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had said the laws, once implemented, would ensure the end of the “tareekh-pe-tareekh” era and justice will be delivered within three years.
“I feel proud that for the first time, India’s Parliament is framing laws for the country’s criminal justice system that have a purely ‘Bharatiya’ soul, body and thought,” Shah said while tabling the bills in Upper House.
“Those who ask what will happen after these laws, I want to say that they did not have the definition of terrorism even after ruling for several decades. The Narendra Modi government has shown zero tolerance towards terrorism and has given its definition in these laws,” Shah added.
PM Narendra Modi hailed the laws and called it a “watershed moment” in India’s history.
“The passage of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 is a watershed moment in our history. These Bills mark the end of colonial-era laws. A new era begins with laws centered on public service and welfare,” PM Modi tweeted.
“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. These Bills ensure enhanced protection for the poor, marginalised and vulnerable sections of our society,” the PM said.
He also said the new bills would come down heavily on organised crime, terrorism and such offences which strike at the root of our peaceful journey to progress.
“In our Amrit Kaal, these legal reforms redefine our legal framework to be more relevant and empathy driven. These speeches by Home Minister Shri @AmitShah Ji further elaborate on the key features of these Bills,” he added.
