New Criminal Laws to Take Effect from July 1: Union Law Minister Meghwal

New Criminal Laws to Take Effect from July 1: Union Law Minister

Contents

Legislative Journey Key Changes and Innovations Public and Legal Community Reactions

Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal has reaffirmed that the Central Government will proceed with implementing the new criminal laws from July 1, 2024. The new statutes—Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam—will replace the existing Indian Penal Code (IPC) of 1860, the Indian Evidence Act of 1872, and the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) of 1973.

In an interview with PTI, Meghwal emphasized the government’s commitment to the July 1 deadline, stating:

“From July 1, all three laws, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Act will replace the Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, and Evidence Act. Looking at the current situation, there are many innovative ideas in these three laws.”

Legislative Journey

The Parliament passed these transformative laws in December 2023, and they received presidential assent later that month. However, their implementation was initially deferred, pending further notifications from the Central Government. On February 25, 2024, the government officially announced that the new laws would come into force on July 1, 2024.

Key Changes and Innovations

These new laws aim to modernize India’s criminal justice system, incorporating several innovative ideas to address contemporary legal challenges. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita will introduce reforms to criminal offenses and their classifications, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita will streamline procedural aspects of criminal law, and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam will update rules regarding evidence in criminal cases.

Public and Legal Community Reactions

The decision to implement these laws has been met with mixed reactions. Recently, Senior Advocate Indira Jaising wrote to the Law Minister, requesting a postponement of the new laws’ implementation. Several lawyers and academics have also expressed concerns about the potential implications and readiness for such a significant overhaul of the criminal justice system.

Despite these concerns, the Union Law Minister has made it clear that the government is moving forward with the July 1 implementation date, signaling a firm stance on modernizing and improving the legal framework.

The Notifications and Bare Act

For those interested in reviewing the official notifications and the text of the new laws, the following links have been provided: