Three new criminal laws to come into force in India from July 1, 2024

New Delhi: The Indian government has announced that three new criminal laws will come into force from July 1, 2024. These laws are the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA). The three laws were passed by Parliament last year and received the President’s assent on December 25, 2023.

The new laws are aimed at replacing the colonial-era Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872. The BNS will define various crimes and their punishments, the BNSS will deal with the criminal justice system, and the BSA will deal with evidence in criminal cases.

Some of the key features of the new laws include:

·         A new chapter on ‘Crimes against Women and Children’ in the BNS. This chapter includes provisions for stricter punishment for crimes such as rape, sexual assault, and acid attacks.

·         A new definition of ‘terrorism’ in the BNS. This definition includes acts that endanger the unity, integrity, sovereignty, security, or economic security of India.

·         A new chapter on ‘Organized Crime’ in the BNS. This chapter includes provisions for the punishment of organized criminal syndicates.

·         A time-bound framework for criminal justice proceedings in the BNSS. This framework includes deadlines for filing FIRs, completing investigations, and conducting trials.

·         The inclusion of electronic and digital evidence in the BSA. This includes emails, server logs, computer records, and smartphone messages.

The government has said that the new laws will help to modernize the criminal justice system and make it more efficient and effective. The laws are also expected to help to reduce crime and protect the rights of victims.

Here is a more detailed summary of the three new laws:

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)

The BNS is the new criminal code of India. It defines various crimes and their punishments. The BNS includes a number of new provisions, including:

·         A new chapter on ‘Crimes against Women and Children’. This chapter includes provisions for stricter punishment for crimes such as rape, sexual assault, and acid attacks.

·         A new definition of ‘terrorism’. This definition includes acts that endanger the unity, integrity, sovereignty, security, or economic security of India.

·         A new chapter on ‘Organized Crime’. This chapter includes provisions for the punishment of organized criminal syndicates.

Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS)

The BNSS deals with the criminal justice system. It includes provisions for:

·         A time-bound framework for criminal justice proceedings. This framework includes deadlines for filing FIRs, completing investigations, and conducting trials.

·         The establishment of a National Criminal Justice Commission. This commission will be responsible for monitoring the implementation of the BNSS and making recommendations for its improvement.

Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA)

The BSA deals with evidence in criminal cases. It includes provisions for:

·         The inclusion of electronic and digital evidence. This includes emails, server logs, computer records, and smartphone messages.

·         The use of expert witnesses. This includes experts in fields such as forensics, DNA analysis, and cybercrime.

The three new criminal laws are a significant reform of the Indian criminal justice system. They are expected to help to modernize the system, make it more efficient and effective, and protect the rights of victims.