President Droupadi Murmu has on Monday given assent to the three new criminal laws, setting in motion a major milestone made by the Narendra Modi in annals of legislative history of the country.
The Ministry of Law and Justice on December 25, 2023 notified the three Acts in gazette. It is soon expected to notify the date on which these codes will come into effect.
The President’s assent was granted after Lok Sabha cleared the three bills on December 20 and Rajya Sabha on December 21, 2023.
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya Act replaced the colonial-era Indian Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Indian Evidence Act.
However, there have been criticism of the move and particularly of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, which replaced the CrPC for containing many provisions that are “unconstitutional and violate” Articles 19 and 21 of the Constitution.
Critics claimed the new provisions for arrest and police custody (that can extend custody up to 60 days or 90 days) will only lead to police excesses and custodial persecution.
