Three new laws have been enacted in India, set to replace the colonial-era Indian Penal Code (IPC), Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and Indian Evidence Act. These laws, effective from July 1, 2024, are the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam.
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita:
- This law replaces the IPC and introduces significant changes, such as renumbering sections. For example, the punishment for murder, previously under Section 302 of the IPC, is now under Section 101.
- It defines terrorism for the first time in Indian law and abolishes sedition as a crime, replacing it with “offences against the state” (India Today) (KPMG).
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita:
- This law replaces the CrPC and aims to enhance the efficiency of the criminal justice system. It includes provisions for digital and electronic evidence and mandates the completion of trials within three years to avoid delays (India Today) (India Today).
- Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam:
- This law replaces the Indian Evidence Act, bringing updates to the admissibility and handling of evidence in court, including digital evidence (KPMG) (Hindustan Times).
These reforms aim to modernize India’s criminal justice system, making it more efficient and reflective of contemporary needs (India Today).
