LS approves Criminal Procedure Amending Bill

New Delhi, May 19: Parliament today gave its nod to the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Amending Bill, 2006 to enable the government to notify different dates for implementation of the various provisions of the Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act, 2005, aimed at streamlining and reforming the criminal justice system in the country.

Replying to the discussion on the bill in the Lok Sabha, Home Minister Shivraj Patil said the amendment explained that certain provisions concerning the issue of anticipatory bail in the new act has been objected to by some lawyers, which had delayed the implementation of the entire act by the government.

Now with this new amendment the government would notify all the provisions of the act, except that concerning anticipatory bail, as they are aimed at reforming criminal justice system, protection of women and providing stringent punishment to those indulging in criminal activities.

Mr Patil said some of the provisions will be notified now and others will be at a later date.

The bill was earlier passed by the Rajya Sabha during the ongoing session of Parliament.

He said the Government initially thought of bringing a comprehensive bill by amending a large number of sections and provisions but since that would have taken much time so it is being brought forward with the object of speeding up the justice system.

This would enable the Government to provide protection to the witnesses as well as granting compensation to the victims of communal riots and of other crimes of severe natures.

He said the Ministry is considering the matter afresh and a new bill will be drafted to tackle the entire ambit of the criminal justice system.

The bill was supported by all sections of the House irrespective of their party affiliations.

Earlier, Suresh Kurup (CPM), Prof Rasa Singh Rawat and M A Karbela Swain (both from BJP), Shailendra Kumar and Afzal Ansari (both SP), Mitra Sen Yadav (BSP), D Vinod (TRS) Ram Kripal Yadav (RJD) and Bhramanand Panda (BJD) participated in the discussion.

UNI