The three proposed criminal laws aim to provide justice, rather than punishment, said Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday.
Referring to the recent bills introduced in Parliament to repeal and replace IPC, CrPC and the Indian Evidence Act, Shah said that the laws are people-centric and have the flavour of Indian soil.
Addressing the International Lawyers’ Conference organised by the Bar Council of India, Shah said, “The proposed laws aim to reduce a delay in the disposal of cases, providing speedy justice. These laws will protect the rights of Indian citizens.”
He also said that the old criminal laws had “imprints of colonial rule”.
“The laws had imprints of colonial rule as they were drafted to strengthen the British regime. I appeal to the lawyers’ community to go closely through the draft proposals tabled in Parliament,” Shah said.
Three bills — Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS-2023), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS-2023) and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA-2023), were introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 11.
They will replace the Indian Penal Code, 1860, Criminal Procedure Act, 1898, and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 respectively.
“Under these laws, we have changed the court system as well. There are 7 types of magistrates, but now you will find only 4 types of judges,” Shah said.
