Three Criminal Law Bills Approved In Lok Sabha Even As 97 MPs Remain Suspended

The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed three revised criminal law bills with the objective of revamping the country's criminal justice system and establishing a framework aligned with Indian principles of justice.

These bills-Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita aimed to supplant the Indian Penal Code, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita aimed to replace the Code of Criminal Procedure, and Bharatiya Sakshya Sanhita intended to substitute the Indian Evidence Act.

Despite controversy, the Lower House approved these bills while 97 MPs were absent due to suspension earlier in the week.

Amit Shah, the Union Home Minister, presented the bills in the Lok Sabha, criticizing the existing criminal laws for mirroring colonial perspectives that prioritize punishment over justice.

He emphasized that the Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, 2023, would supplant the Indian Penal Code, aiming to pivot towards a system focused on justice rather than just punishment, aligning with the ethos of the Constitution.

Shah asserted that these new laws strive to establish a justice system rooted in Indian ideologies, breaking away from colonial influences. The bills passed through the Lok Sabha via voice vote.

Highlighting the challenges faced by the underprivileged in accessing justice due to financial constraints and delays in the judicial system, Shah mentioned that the new laws aim to address these issues by providing clarity.

The proposed laws eliminated sedition as a crime, introducing a section on "offences against the state," along with a defined framework for terrorism. Notably, the legislation proposed the death penalty for mob lynching.

Originally introduced during the Monsoon Session of Parliament and later withdrawn, Amit Shah reintroduced the revised bills in the Lok Sabha last week, leading to their recent passage.