New Criminal Laws that replace the IPC to come into effect from July 1

The Union Government on Saturday announced that the three new criminal laws that are set to replace the Indian Penal Code, will come into effect from July 1. Union Home Minister Amit Shah had stated that the existing laws were reflective of the colonial mindset that fail to impart justice, therefore, they needed to be changed to accommodate the recent times.

The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita, the Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, and the Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Bill was first introduced during the 2023 Monsoon session of the Parliament and was passed during the winter session last year. These new laws will replace the colonial era Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act.

The Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita that replaces the Indian Penal Code, 1860, has deleted sedition as a crime, however, it includes sections for punishing acts against sovereignty, unity and integrity of India, separatism and secessionism. Reformative punishments such as community service have been introduced. Replacing the CrPC, 1973, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita addresses delays in the mechanism for delivering justice, ensuring that a judgement is passed within 30 days. Under the Bharatiya Sakshya, that replaces the Indian Evidence Act of 1872, all records and evidences produced before the court would be digitised.

The union home minister had asserted that the three new laws embrace the “Indianness of the India Constitution” and were drafted under his strict supervision.​