Union Home Minister Amit Shah criticised the opposition parties for opposing the new criminal laws and said that there are several occasions to do politics but the new acts should be supported.
The new criminal laws Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Sanhita came into effect from July 1 midnight.
On the Opposition’s criticism that no discussions were held before implementation, Shah said, “For these new laws, a few friends in the Opposition are saying different things before the media. I would like to tell you all that 9.29 hours of discussions were held in Lok Sabha and 34 members participated in that. In Rajya Sabha, over 6 hours of discussions were held. 40 members participated in the discussions.”
“It is also being falsely said that the Bill was brought after the members were sent out (suspended). Bill was already listed before the Business Advisory Committee. I firmly believe that the Opposition had been boycotting the House beforehand, perhaps they didn’t want to participate (in discussions). I want to tell the Opposition that there are several occasions to do politics but this should be supported,” he said.
Shah said that discussions on these laws were held for over four years. “It would be one of the laws on which such a long discussion was held before it was taken into Parliament,” he added.
“Prison, forensic, and prison personnel are also trained. For training of 22.50 lakh police personnel, over 12,000 trainers are ready,” Shah said.
Shah further said that around 6.20 lakh police personnel in over 17,000 police stations have been trained for the new laws.
The Union Home Minister also clarified that the first FIR being registered under the new law was in Madhya Pradesh’s Gwalior.
“The first case registered was that of a motorcycle theft, it was registered at around 12.10 am in Gwalior. The case against the street vendor in Delhi was not the first under the new law,” Amit Shah said during a press conference in Delhi on Monday.
He said that all crimes that occurred after July 1, 2024, will come under the new laws while the crimes registered before July 1, 2024, will continue to be tried through old laws.
Shah said that by August 15, the new criminal laws will be implemented in all Union territories.
The Union Home Minister said that the new laws focus on a victim-oriented approach. “The focus has been on crimes against women and children. Crimes including gang rape, and mob lynching, are all separately defined. I firmly say that these three laws will be the most modern law after being implemented properly,” he said.
He said that a free FIR copy has been made mandatory for the complainant under the new law adding that a station visit to register an FIR is not mandatory from now. Shah said that the new laws will reflect the spirit of the country. He also clarified that number of days of remand is 15 days.
Shah said that the arrested person should be presented before the magistrate within 24 hours. “Justice delivery within 45 days is a must, FIR needed to be registered within three days, chargesheet will be submitted within 90 days,” he said.
On digitalisation, the Union Home Minister said, “99.99 per cent of police stations have been computerised. Everything will be digital including chargesheets. Forensic evidence has been made mandatory. Videography during search and seizure is a must, as well as recording, is compulsory. Now e-register is necessary.”
He also assured with the implementation of these three laws, any case will get justice within three to four years even if the case goes to the Supreme Court.
The three new laws received Parliament’s nod on December 21, 2023. President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent on December 25, 2023, and was published in the official gazette on the same day.
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita will have 358 sections (instead of 511 sections in the IPC). A total of 20 new crimes have been added to the bill, and the imprisonment sentence has been increased for 33 of them. The amount of the fine has been increased in 83 crimes and mandatory minimum punishment has been introduced in 23 crimes. The penalty of community service has been introduced for six crimes and 19 sections have been repealed or removed from the bill.
Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita will have 531 sections (in place of 484 sections of CrPC). A total of 177 provisions have been changed in the bill, and nine new sections as well as 39 new sub-sections have been added to it. The draft act has added 44 new provisions and clarifications. Timelines have been added to 35 sections and audio-video provision has been added at 35 places. A total of 14 sections have been repealed and removed in the Sanhita.
Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam will have 170 provisions (instead of the original 167 provisions, and a total of 24 provisions have been changed. Two new provisions and six sub-provisions have been added and six provisions have been repealed or deleted in the Adhiniyam. (ANI)
