A look at the new laws
The Bhartiya Nayaya Samhita 2023, the Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Samhita 2023 and the Indian Evidence Act 2023 were passed in the Lok Sabha on 20 December 2023 and in the Rajya Sabha on 21 December 2023. It was signed and enacted by the President on 25 December 2023.
Objective –
To replace the colonial law.
To bring positive change in the Indian criminal justice system.
To protect the rights of citizens by focusing more on justice instead of punishment.
Many changes have been made in the Indian judicial system according to the needs of the present time to solve various problems such as number of cases pending in the court for a long time, low rate of conviction, very little inclusion of technology in the legal system, very long time taken in investigation and very little use of forensic science.
Essential provisions –
In the new criminal law, the important stages of a criminal case have been bound within a fixed time limit.
These laws include provisions such as informing the complainant about the progress of the case by the police after 90 days, completing the primary investigation in 14 days, providing medical report related to rape in 7 days, framing of charges by the court within 60 days of the first hearing and giving the decision within 45 days of completion of the consideration, which will enable the victim to get speedy justice.
Provisions such as e-challan, e-summons for minor crimes, definition of mob lynching, audio-video recording, abolishing the legal provision of treason and giving place to treason in these criminal laws will strengthen the rule of justice and law in the country.
The Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Samhita 2023(BNSS) –
It will replace the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC).
The old law had 484 sections. The new law will have 531 sections.
In new law 177 sections have been replaced, 9 new sections have been added and 14 sections have been repealed.
The Bhartiya Nayaya Samhita 2023 (BNS) –
It will replace the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC).
The old law had 511 sections. The new law will have 358 sections, 20 new offences have been added, 23 offences have mandatory minimum sentence, 6 offences have community service penalty and 19 sections have been repealed.
Bhartiya Sakshya Act (BSA) 2023 –
It will replace the Indian Evidence Act, 1872.
The old law had 167 sections. The new law will have 170 sections, 24 sections have been amended, 2 new sections have been added and 6 sections have been repealed.
**Under the new criminal laws implemented across the country from July 1, Rajasthan Police has started a new initiative of collecting digital evidence through an app and storing them on the cloud. The e-Sakshya app prepared by the National Informatics Center (NIC) has been launched for the entire state.
