Curtains on British-Era Rules, New Criminal Laws Take Effect Today: What Changes

New Delhi: Making a landmark shift, India heed towards a new era of criminal justice with three reformed laws coming into effect on July 1. Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya hiniyam (BSA) will replace colonial-era legislation including Indian Penal Code (IPC), Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and Indian Evidence Act, respectively

Bills to replace colonial-era criminal justice rule were introduced in Parliament in December last year by Union Home Minister Amit Shah who said soul of se three new laws will be to protect all rights given by Constitution to citizens.

"British-era laws were me to strengn and protect ir rule and ir purpose was to punish, not to give justice," Shah said.

Union Home Minister claimed that objective of proposed laws will not be to punish anyone but to give justice to victims. “ objective will not be to punish anyone but to give justice and in this process, punishment will be given where it is required to create a sense of prevention of crime.” 

New Criminal Laws: Key Changes to Know

• After trial ends, criminal case judgments must be delivered within 45 days and charges related to case must be framed within 60 days of first hearing. state governments are directed to implement witness protection schemes to ensure safety and cooperation of witnesses.
• statements from rape victims must be recorded by a female police officer and presence of victim's guardian or relative is mandated. Medical reports must be completed within seven days.
• In order to dress crimes against women and children, law classifies buying or selling of a child as a heinous crime, punishable by severe penalties. Similarly, gang rape cases related to a minor can result in a death sentence or life imprisonment.
• new criminal justice law also ensures punishments in cases where women are abandoned after being misled by false promises of marriage.
• Victims of crimes against women are entitled to receive regular updates on ir cases within 90 days. All victims of crimes against women and children are now entitled to free first-aid or medical treatment across hospitals in country. 

new criminal justice laws enable people to report incidents electronically without visiting a police station, ensuring faster and easier reporting of crime. With Zero FIR, any person can lodge a First Information Report (FIR) at any police station, regardless of constituency or jurisdiction, eliminating delays in action. 

'Nyay' Inste of 'Dand'

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday reaffirmed that new criminal laws that came into effect today have ended colonial-era laws in India, transforming country's criminal justice system into ‘completely Sweshi.’   

Remarking that laws are me in reflection of constitutional spirit, Home Minister said that it will stand as most modern set of laws. 

"I would like to congratulate people of country that about 77 years after independence, our criminal justice system is becoming completely 'Sweshi'. This will function on Indian ethos. After 75 years, se laws were contemplated upon and when se laws are in effect from today, colonial laws have been scrapped and laws me in Indian Parliament are being brought into practice," Shah said.

Amit Shah Schools Opposition

Responding to allegations of passing laws without required debate and discussions in Parliament, Amit Shah rejected accusations, claiming, "No or law in history of country has been discussed in such detail in Parliament".

“Opinions from every section of society were considered in formation of new criminal laws. opposition intentionally boycotted Parliament sessions and are now blaming that it was passed in ir absence.”  

It comes after opposition parties claimed that bills proposing new criminal laws were passed without equate debate and discussion on matter.

"After political and moral shock in elections, Modi ji and BJP are pretending to respect Constitution, but truth is that three laws of criminal justice system that are being implemented from today were forcibly passed by suspending 146 MPs," Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said. 

First Case Under New Criminal Laws Registered 

first case under new criminal laws was registered in Gwalior, Mhya Presh, informed Home Minister Amit Shah. "It involved a ft; someone's motorcycle was stolen. case was registered at 12:10 am," he said.

In national capital, Delhi Police registered first FIR under new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, on July 1 at Kamla Market Police Station. case was against a street vendor under Section 285 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for obstruction under foot over bridge of New Delhi Railway Station.