Union Home Minister Amit Shah, on August 11, said in Lok Sabha that the new Bill on the Indian Penal Code (IPC) will completely repeal the offence of sedition. Amit Shah introduced three bills in the Lok Sabha to replace the IPC, Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and the Indian Evidence Act.
The Indian Penal Code will be repealed and replaced with Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill, 2023, while Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, will replace the Code of Criminal Procedure Code. The Evidence Act will make way for Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, 2023, when the Parliament passes it.
Speaking in the Lok Sabha.
https://t.co/ElJ5O5096B— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) August 11, 2023
Speaking on the three bills in the Lower House, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, “Under this law, we are repealing laws like Sedition.”
“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 change in the criminal justice system in the country,” he said.
“Under this Bill, we have set the goal that the conviction ratio has to be taken above 90 per cent. That is why, we have brought an important provision that the Sections which provide for 7 years or a greater jail term, under all those cases forensic team’s visit to the crime scene will be made compulsory,” Amit Shah said.
The key bills include a new penal code against mob lynching, a death provision for the rape of minors and a time-bound approval to prosecute civil servants. Offences such as separatism and waging war against the country are defined as separate offences. A provision has been brought in to try absconding criminals such as Dawood Ibrahim in absentia.
The offence of sedition was covered by the Indian Penal Code (IPC) under Section 124A.
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill, which will replace the IPC, is aimed at streamlining provisions relating to offences and penalties. For the first time, it proposes community service as one of the punishments for petty offences. The offences against women and children, murder, and offences against the State have been given precedence. The various offences have been made gender neutral, the Statement of Objects and Reasons of the Bill said.
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita
The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita provides for the use of technology and forensic sciences in the investigation of crime and furnishing and lodging of information, service of summons, etc., through electronic communication.
Bharatiya Sakshya Bill
The Bharatiya Sakshya Bill provides for the admissibility of an electronic or digital record as evidence, and it shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a paper record.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the objective of the new laws is to do away with the old laws that were made to serve the interests of the British.
