Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared this month that Chandigarh has successfully implemented three criminal laws: the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam. The first administrative unit in the nation to apply the three kaws was the city of Chandigarh.

The three recently enacted criminal laws

• On July 1st, the Indian Evidence Act, the Code of Criminal Procedure, and the Indian Penal Code were superseded by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, respectively.
• The Prime Minister emphasized that the new laws are in place to safeguard citizens' rights and ensure justice for them, even as he mentioned that three laws have been fully implemented.
• The Prime Minister went on to explain the significance of the occasion and noted that the new laws' implementation is the next step in achieving the principles outlined in the Indian Constitution.
• The implementation of these laws is a significant event as the nation strives to fulfill its promise of "Viksit Bharat" and commemorates the 75th anniversary of the Indian Constitution's promulgation. Additionally, the enactment of these laws marks the repeal of those from the colonial era.
• Modi also stated that the previous laws, which were put in place to guarantee a lasting hold on the nation and its citizens, served as a vehicle for the exploitation and atrocities carried out during the British colonial era.
• Following the 1857 upheaval that rocked the foundations of British power, the Indian Evidence Act and the CrPC framework were established in 1860, along with the IPC. "Those laws were designed to punish Indians and keep them in slavery," he stated.
   

Some of the Changes Introduced Under the New Criminal Laws:

• The revised laws now include 20 new crimes.
• A total of 33 crimes now carry harsher penalties.
• Additionally, 83 crimes now carry higher fines.
• For a total of 23 offenses, mandatory minimum punishment has been guaranteed.
• Additionally, community service has been expanded as a sanction for six offenses.
• Nineteen sections have been eliminated.
• Additionally, new definitions and expanded admissibility of electronic evidence have been brought about by new criminal legislation.
• Additionally, new laws have raised the maximum penalty in situations when reckless or careless driving results in death.
• The new laws guarantee a more victim-centered justice system.
• It would be necessary to file charges for serious offenses like rape within 60 days of the charges being filed. Additionally, the verdict must be rendered within 45 days of the hearing.

In conclusion, according to the government, the purpose of these new laws is to make the Indian legal system more effective, transparent, and socially adaptive. They also aim to overhaul the entire justice system to address the new issues of the modern era, like organized crime and cyber crime and to ensure justice for the victims of various offenses.

You can reach out to our attorneys at Sharks of Law for more information on the subject, as well as for free legal advice or online legal assistance on issues pertaining to new criminal legislation, etc.
 
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