Lok Sabha discusses bills seeking to replace existing criminal laws

Our Political Bureau

New Delhi: The Lok Sabha discussed on Tuesday three bills - Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita and Bharatiya Sakshya Bill - seeking to repeal and replace the Indian Penal Code, 1860, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, respectively.

The bills were introduced by Union home minister Amit Shah in the monsoon session and were referred to a parliamentary standing committee. The initial bills were withdrawn and were reintroduced during this session, incorporating certain suggestions made by the committee. Shah will give a statement in the House on Wednesday.


The Lok Sabha discussed the three bills following the suspension of 49 members of the Opposition on Tuesday. While all BJP MPs present in the House supported the bill, they suggested enhanced punishment for a number of crimes, especially crimes against women. BJP MP Jaskaur Meena said, "Getting married by hiding true identity is a crime. The punishment prescribed under the laws is inadequate and should be enhanced."

BJP MP Vishnu Dayal Ram suggested enhancing the penalty for food adulteration and impersonating a government officer. "It is inadequate," he said, adding that these were set when the British were in power in India and they always had a mistrust towards the police force.

Speaking in support of the bill, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya said that it even included punishment for sex on the false promise of marriage or job offer and said it will protect the vulnerable women.

Senior BJP member Ravi Shankar Prasad praised the wide level of consultation on the bill and said, "I have never seen such a wide level of consultation before. Letters were written to all MPs, a premier law university was made the nodal point. Academicians, judges, retired judges, lawyers, and professors were consulted," Prasad said, adding the Bharatiya Suraksha Sanhita had the provision allowing in absentia trial against the absconding accused. "There are provisions allowing registration of 'Zero FIR'. It is a welcome change. The three bills replace the colonial mindset. The IPC was intended to protect the interests of British interests," he said.

BJD MP Bhartruhari Mahtab said, "It is imperative that the outlook must be changed and law and order must be viewed outside the colonial lens. History is in the making today since new laws for our Indian criminal jurisprudence are being enacted. I thank our prime minister and home minister for taking this initiative."