New People-Friendly Criminal Laws in India Starting July 1, Says DCP Uma Shankar
New Delhi [India] June 28: Uma Shankar, Deputy Commissioner of Police at the Delhi Police Academy, announced that new criminal laws will be implemented in India from July 1. These laws aim to replace older laws and introduce people-friendly provisions.
New Laws to Replace Old Ones
The three new criminal laws are:
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023
- Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023
These will replace the Indian Penal Code of 1860, the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1973, and the Indian Evidence Act of 1872.
People-Friendly Provisions
Shankar highlighted several people-friendly provisions:
- Zero-FIR: Cases can be filed in any police station and forwarded to the concerned jurisdiction.
- Online FIR: Available at the national level.
- Victims can register statements from their current city.
Provisions for Women
Shankar also mentioned simplified provisions for women:
- Women can lodge complaints without visiting a police station.
Changes in Sections and Penalties
The new laws include changes in sections, fines, and penalties:
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita: 358 sections, 20 new crimes, increased imprisonment for 33 crimes, increased fines for 83 crimes, mandatory minimum punishment for 23 crimes, community service penalty for six crimes, and 19 sections removed.
- Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita: 531 sections, 177 changed provisions, nine new sections, 39 new sub-sections, 44 new provisions, timelines in 35 sections, audio-video provision in 35 places, and 14 sections removed.
- Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam: 170 provisions, 24 changed provisions, two new provisions, six new sub-provisions, and six provisions removed.