Lok Sabha passes three bills to reconstruct criminal laws

The Lok Sabha, on Wednesday, passed three bills aimed at replacing colonial-era criminal laws through a voice vote. Proposed by Home Minister Amit Shah and introduced last week, these bills are named the Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita, and the Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Bill.

The bills seek to replace the Indian Penal Code-1860, the Code of Criminal Procedure Act-1898, and the Indian Evidence Act of 1872, respectively. Notably, the parliamentary proceedings occurred in the absence of 97 Opposition MPs who were suspended over misconduct and unruly behavior in the preceding week.

The proceedings took place in the absence of 97 Opposition MPs, who were suspended over misconduct and unruly behavior since last week.  Shah said the bills were framed after consultations. He said he had even gone through every comma and full stop before they were tabled in the Lok Sabha.

He said the three bills would establish a justice system based on Indian thinking. He said the existing laws reflect the colonial mindset of punishing for a crime but not doing justice."The three proposed criminal laws will free people from the colonial mindset and its symbols," Shah said.