Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman, Jagdeep Dhankhar, directed the circulation and publication of the 246th Report on ‘The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023,’ the 247th Report on ‘The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023,’ and the 248th Report on ‘The Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, 2023.’ These reports were submitted by Brij Lal, Rajya Sabha MP, and Chairman of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs, on November 10, 2023.
In a statement on ‘X,’ the Vice President conveyed, “Hon’ble Vice-President of India and Chairman, Rajya Sabha, Jagdeep Dhankhar has directed the circulation and publication of the following three Reports: 246th Report on ‘The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023,’ 247th Report on ‘The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023,’ and 248th Report on ‘The Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, 2023,’ submitted on November 10, 2023, by Brij Lal ji, Member Parliament (RS) and Chairman of Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs.”
The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, and the Bharatiya Sakshya Bill 2023 were introduced in the Lower House of Parliament on August 11. These bills aim to replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC) 1860, Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973, and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, respectively.
During the bill introductions, Home Minister Amit Shah emphasized that the essence of these laws is to safeguard all the rights granted by the Constitution to citizens. Shah criticized the British-era laws, stating that they were designed to fortify and uphold colonial rule, primarily focusing on punishment rather than justice.
“We (government) are going to bring changes in both these fundamental aspects. The soul of these three new laws will be to protect all the rights given by the Constitution to Indian citizens. The 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,” Shah stressed.
Shah provided details about the changes in each bill. The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita Bill, replacing CrPC, now encompasses 533 sections, with 160 sections amended, nine new sections added, and nine sections repealed. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill, replacing the IPC, comprises 356 sections instead of the previous 511, with 175 sections amended, eight new sections added, and 22 sections repealed. The Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, replacing the Evidence Act, now includes 170 sections, with 23 sections amended, one new section added, and five repealed.
(Inputs from ANI)