Breaking News :- Lok Sabha Passes Three Criminal Law Amendment Bills

Lok Sabha on 19th December 2023 had taken up discussion on three bills to replace the Indian Penal Code of 1860, Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) of 1973 and Indian Evidence Act, of 1872. 

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita will replace the Indian Penal Code-1860, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita will replace the CrPC of 1973 and the Bharatiya Sakshya Bill will replace the Indian Evidence Act of 1872. 

The New Three bills will encourage the use of technology in giving justice to people.  "mob-lynching" is one of the most demanding law which had been included as an offence in the bills. The minister said the British-era laws were aimed at protecting foreign rule and the new bills are people-centric.  

Under the amended laws, the deadline for filing FIR has been fixed. "After submitting the investigation report to the District Magistrate, it will have to be presented before the court within 24 hours. There is a provision to send the medical report directly to the police station/court within seven days. Chargesheet can no longer be kept pending after 180 days," Amit Shah said in the Lok Sabha.

He added, “Now the accused will get seven days to file a plea for acquittal..." The Union Home Minister said, “A judge has to hold the hearing in those seven days and in a maximum time of 120 days, the case would come to trial. There was no time limit for plea bargaining earlier.

The Home Minister withdrew the three bills, which were introduced in the Lok Sabha in the monsoon session of parliament. He said that the bills had been withdrawn and three new bills introduced, as a few changes were to be made. He said the bills had been examined by the Standing Committee and instead of coming up with official amendments, it was decided to bring the bills again. The earlier bills were introduced in the lower House of Parliament on August 11 and were referred to the Standing Committee.