Three new criminal laws — Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam — came into effect across the country on Monday. These laws will replace the colonial-era Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure and the Indian Evidence Act, respectively.
A first FIR (First Information Report), under the new criminal laws, was registered on Monday at Delhi’s Kamla Market Police Station, against a street vendor.
The case was registered under Section 285 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, on charges of obstructing a footover bridge at the New Delhi Railway Station.
Ahead of the laws coming into force, posters educating people about the new laws were put up at various places, particularly police stations, across the national capital.
Some of the posters, giving out information about the new laws, were seen at the police stations of Connaught Place, Tughlak Road, Tughlaqabad, and many more.
The new criminal laws would bring widespread changes in India’s criminal justice system and end colonial-era laws.
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam will replace the British-era Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure and the Indian Evidence Act, respectively.
BHARATIYA NYAYA SANHITA
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita has 358 sections (as against 511 sections of the IPC). A total of 20 new crimes have been added to the Sanhita, and the imprisonment sentence has been increased for 33 crimes.
The amount of fine has been increased in 83 crimes and mandatory minimum punishment has been introduced in 23 crimes.
The penalty of community service has been introduced in six crimes and 19 sections have been repealed or removed in the Act.
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita has introduced a new chapter titled ‘Crimes against Women and Children’ to deal with sexual crimes, and Sanhita is proposing changes in the provisions related to the rape of women below 18 years of age.
Provisions related to the gang rape of a minor woman are consistent with the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (Pocso). A provision for life imprisonment or death penalty in the case of girls below 18 years of age has also been made.
There is the provision of 20 years imprisonment or life imprisonment in all cases of gang rape and the new crime category of gang rape of a woman under 18 years of age in the Sanhita.
The Sanhita provides targeted penalties for persons fraudulently engaging in sexual intercourse or promising to marry without the true intention to marry.
The posters were incorporated with information about laws and what changes they will bring.