The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs has scheduled a meeting for October 27, during which they will "consider and adopt" the draft reports related to three bills. These bills aim to instigate a comprehensive reform of the criminal justice system.
These bills, named the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, and the Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, 2023, were presented in Parliament during the Monsoon Session. Their primary objective is to replace three archaic British-era laws, which are the Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, and the Indian Evidence Act, respectively.
Upon their introduction, Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasized the bills' intent to prioritize justice over punishment. He highlighted that the existing laws were originally designed to uphold and reinforce the British administration, emphasizing punitive measures rather than ensuring justice. The proposed new laws, in contrast, are crafted to safeguard the rights of Indian citizens and deliver justice.
Amit Shah clarified that the main objective of these new bills is not to inflict punishment but rather to provide justice. He articulated that while punishment will still be administered, its aim will be to deter criminal activities, rather than to be the primary focus of the laws.
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