The three new criminal laws were passed by Parliament in 2023.
Section 106(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which provides for punishment in hit and run cases, has been put on hold.
Significance of new criminal laws
Reformative justice: Such as community service instead of imprisonment.
Modernising the justice system: for ex Indian Penal Code (1860) is outdated and does not reflect current norms of criminal jurisprudence.
Seamless flow of information:Designed to improve coordination and collaboration between parties involved in investigation and judicial proceedings.
New Act
Replacing
Major Points
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023
Indian Penal Code,1860
Community services for petty offense such as including attempted suicide to obstruct public servants' duties.
Sexual acts against women under 18 are classified as rape, regardless of consent.
Terrorist act is defined as a separate offence.
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023
Criminal Procedure Code, 1973
Detention of undertrials: Accused detained for half the maximum sentence must be released on bond, except for death penalty or life imprisonment cases, or those with multiple pending charges.
Signatures and finger impressions: Magistrate of the first class can order an accused person, to give specimen signatures or finger impressions or handwriting or voice samples.
Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023
Indian Evidence Act, 1872
Electronic and digital records are granted equal legal status as paper documents.
Oral evidence comprises all statements, including electronic ones, permitted or required by the Court from witnesses regarding matters under inquiry.
