Union Home Minister Amit Shah has announced the withdrawal of three proposed criminal law bills—the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita—with the intention of introducing amended versions. These revised bills are tailored in response to recommendations made by a parliamentary panel.
In a statement released by the Home Minister’s office, it was announced that the bills underwent scrutiny by the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs on August 18. After several rounds of discussions with officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Law and Justice, domain experts, and stakeholders, the committee submitted its reports and recommendations on November 10. In light of the committee’s suggestions, amendments are proposed for the three bills, leading to the decision to introduce new versions.
Initially introduced in the Lower House of Parliament on August 11, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, and Bharatiya Sakshya Bill 2023 aim to replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC) 1860, the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) 1973, and the Indian Evidence Act 1872, respectively.
During the introduction of these bills, Home Minister Amit Shah emphasized that the essence of these laws is to safeguard all rights granted by the Constitution to citizens. He highlighted the colonial-era laws, designed to bolster British rule, as punitive rather than ensuring justice.
The proposed Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita Bill, set to replace the CrPC, is intended to encompass 533 sections, involving modifications in 160 sections, the addition of nine new sections, and the repeal of nine sections. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill, a replacement for the IPC, will entail 356 sections, with amendments in 175, the addition of eight new sections, and the repeal of 22 sections. Additionally, the Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, slated to substitute the Evidence Act, is anticipated to consist of 170 sections, with modifications in 23 sections, the addition of one new section, and the repeal of five sections.