In a historic development, the President of India Droupadi Murmu gave assent to the three new Criminal laws which will now be called 'The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023', 'The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023' and 'The Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023'.

These laws will repeal and replace the Indian Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Indian Evidence Act respectively, when it is brought into force by separate notification.

The bills were originally introduced in the Lok Sabha, and subsequently was passed by both the houses in the recently concluded Winter Parliament Session.

It is pertinent to note that amidst the suspension of more than two-third Members of Parliament (MPs) of opposition, the bills were passed through voice vote in Rajya Sabha. The MPs were suspended for their conduct that consequentially breached the Parliament security during the session on December 13.

The Acts bring a total of 313 changes in the entire system governing criminal laws, comprising the IPC, CrPC and the Indian Evidence Act. While setting out the agenda, the Union Minister Amit Shah said that from 1860 until 2023, the criminal justice system was running on the laws that the British Parliament made, however, the three proposed bills is the portrayal of the "true Indian spirit".
The new Acts are: -

Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 with 170 Sections to replace Indian Evidence Act, 1872 with 167 Sections;

-Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 with 533 Sections to replace Criminal Procedure Code, 1898 with 484 Sections;

-Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 with 356 Sections to replace Indian Penal Code, 1860 with 511 Sections.

Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, had introduced the three new bills and remarked that these new laws will be to protect all the rights given to Indian citizens by the Constitution, and, their purpose will not be to punish, but give justice. He said that the old laws, drafted and enacted under British rule were opposed to justice and created to punish, not protect. The earlier laws, according to the Home Minister were a sign of slavery.
President of IndiaCriminal Reform BillsUnion Home Ministry

Agatha Shukla