Parliament Passes Three Criminal Law Reform Bills, PM Modi Calls it ‘Watershed Moment’
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 22nd Dec. The Rajya Sabha on Thursday passed three criminal bills: the Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita, and Bharatiya Saksha (Second) Bill. This happened in the absence of opposition MPs from the Parliament.
These bills, which replace the Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, and Indian Evidence Act, had already been approved in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded to this development on X (formerly known as Twitter) and described the passage of the new criminal bills as a ‘watershed moment’ in history.
Modi has lauded the passage of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 by the Parliament and called it a historic moment in India’s history.
He underlined that these bills ensure enhanced protection for the poor, marginalised and vulnerable sections of the society while also coming down heavily on organised crime, terrorism and other such offences.
The Prime Minister said that these legal reforms redefine India’s legal framework to be more relevant and empathy driven in the Amrit Kaal.
He also shared a video of Union Home Minister Amit Shah discussing the three bills in Rajya Sabha.
In a thread post on X, the Prime Minister said, “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.
These transformative Bills are a testament to India’s commitment to reform. They bring our legal, policing, and investigative systems into the modern era with a focus on technology and forensic science. These Bills ensure enhanced protection for the poor, marginalised and vulnerable sections of our society.
At the same time, these Bills come down heavily on organised crime, terrorism and such offences which strike at the root of our peaceful journey to progress. Through them, we have also bid goodbye to the outdated sections on sedition.
In our Amrit Kaal, these legal reforms redefine our legal framework to be more relevant and empathy driven. These speeches by Home Minister Shri Amit Shah Ji further elaborate on the key features of these Bills.”
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
Shah also mentioned that once the new criminal laws are implemented, the entire process from filing an FIR to the judgment will be conducted online.
He stated, “Their implementation will put an end to the era of delayed justice and ensure that judgments are delivered within three years.”
It is worth noting that these bills were passed in the Upper House in the absence of most opposition MPs, who were suspended due to their disruptive behavior while demanding a discussion on the December 13 security breach in Parliament.
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