BJP GOVERNMENT INTRODUCES BILLS TO REPLACE IPC, 1860; CRPC, 1973; IEA, 1872 IN LOK SABHA
The Modi Government introduces three Bills to replace British-Era Criminal statutory and procedural laws. These bills are “The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023; The Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 and The Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, 2023 and these bills will replace The Indian Penal Code, 1860; The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 and The Indian Evidence Act, 1872.
CRPC stands for “Code of Criminal Procedure.” It is a legal framework that outlines the procedures to be followed during the investigation and trial of criminal cases. The CRPC lays down the guidelines for various stages of the criminal justice process, such as the arrest, bail, investigation, trial, and appeals. The code varies from country to country, as each jurisdiction has its own set of laws and procedures for handling criminal cases.
The three proposed statutes were referred to a Parliamentary Standing Committee that would hold exhaustive deliberations and is expected to table the report by the next session of Parliament. “From 1860 to 2023, the country’s criminal justice system functioned as per the laws made by the British. With these three laws, there will be a major transformation in the criminal justice system”.
The Criminal Procedure Code was first enacted in 1882 and than replaced in 1898. Both versions were enacted by the Britishers for their convenience and to rule on Indians. This code was then replaced by the amendment of 1973 which brings major changes in the criminal procedure code. Now, after passing 50 years, this procedural code seems less efficient to curb the nail on the criminals. The government has proposed death sentences in some grave offences and first time provided for community service for petty offences in Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. This new BNSS 2023 will be helpful to implement the laws proposed to enact in BNS, 2023.
BARE ACT – The Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023