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The Lok Sabha made significant strides by passing three new criminal laws advocated by Home Minister Amit Shah, replacing archaic colonial-era laws that had persisted for decades. These laws, namely Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, received approval through a voice vote due to the Opposition’s absence.
One of the prominent features of these laws is the imposition of the death penalty for mob lynching and terrorism. Shah emphasized the government’s zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism, underlining that these laws redefine and explicitly define “terrorism” within the Indian legal framework to prevent any exploitation of legal loopholes.
During the debate, Shah highlighted that the new criminal laws shift the focus from punishment and deterrence to justice and reformation, aligning them with the evolving needs of modern India. Additionally, the bills emphasize the use of technology and digitization, incorporating provisions for mandatory video recording of search and seizure procedures to prevent potential misuse.
However, concerns were raised by opposition leaders such as Adhir Ranjan Choudhary and Kapil Sibal, who expressed apprehensions regarding potential human rights violations and the need for adequate safeguards against law enforcement excesses.
The bills are set to move to the Rajya Sabha during the remaining days of the winter session for further deliberation. Supporters of the bills, including members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and allies, emphasized the necessity to view law and order outside the colonial lens and place the citizen at the center of the criminal justice system.
While the bills received endorsement from several quarters for their efforts to align with contemporary needs, voices like Harsimrat Kaur Badal from the Shiromani Akali Dal raised concerns about potentially granting excessive powers to the police without sufficient checks and balances.
Overall, these proposed criminal laws aim to break away from the remnants of colonial governance, espousing the ethos of the Indian Constitution and striving to create a robust and indigenous legal framework in line with India’s contemporary realities.
