3 criminal bills passed in Rajya Sabha
What's the story
The Rajya Sabha passed the Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, 2023; the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita, 2023; and the Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Sanhita, 2023, on Thursday.
The amended bills were passed in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
They will replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860, the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973, and the Evidence Act, 1872.
Twitter Post
The bills were passed unanimously
The Rajya Sabha passes three criminal bills — The Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, 2023, The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita, 2023 and The Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Bill, 2023 — replacing the IPC, the CrPC and the Evidence Act. pic.twitter.com/VSUPA2Gu5j
— ANI (@ANI) December 21, 2023
Shah
Bills not intended at punishing, but giving justice: Shah
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who tabled the bills in the Upper House, said, "The three bills I have tabled today are not intended to punish but to give justice."
"The soul of these laws is Indian, and for the first time, our criminal justice system will be governed by laws made by India, for India, and made in the Indian Parliament," he added.
Criminal laws
Bills aimed at revamping colonial-era criminal laws
The new bills seek to modernize colonial-era criminal laws, with an emphasis on toughening penalties for crimes like terrorism, lynching, and endangering national security.
Reacting to the development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to X (formerly known as Twitter) and said that the passage of the new criminal bills is a "watershed moment" in our history.
Twitter Post
PM Modi reacts to development
The passage of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 is a watershed moment in our history. These Bills mark the end of colonial-era laws. A new era begins with laws centered on public service and welfare.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 21, 2023
Bills
Bills passed in absence of opposition MPs
The bills were passed in both Houses in the absence of 144 opposition MPs, who have been suspended for alleged "unruly conduct."
Opposition MPs are demanding a statement from Shah regarding last week's security breach in Parliament.
On December 13, two individuals—Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D—jumped into the Lok Sabha's chamber from the visitors' gallery, shouting slogans and setting off smoke canisters.