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On Friday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah tabled three historic bills aimed at replacing the British-era Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).
Amit Shah, Union Home Minister, addressing the parliamentarians, unveiled the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita Bill, and the Bharatiya Sakshya Bill. These comprehensive legislative efforts are poised for in-depth scrutiny by a parliamentary panel. He emphasized that the aim of the new bills, “will not be to punish, it will be to provide justice.”
These reforms entail the introduction of capital punishment for instances of mob lynching and sexual assaults on minors, along with the imposition of a 20-year imprisonment term for gang rape. Union Home Minister Amit Shah presented these visionary bills as a means to replace the archaic British-era Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and the Indian Evidence Act.
SEDITION LAW CHANGED FROM LIFE IMPRISONMENT TO THREE TO SEVEN YEARS
Amit Shah also announced changes in the punishment for sedition. Under the existing law, sedition is punishable by life imprisonment or imprisonment which may extend to three years. Provisions under the new bill proposed to change it to three to seven years imprisonment.
DEATH PENALTY FOR MOB LYNCHING
Amit Shah announced in Parliament that the government plans to establish a rule for imposing the death penalty in cases of mob lynching.
In situations where a group of five or more individuals collaboratively commits murder based on factors such as race, caste, community, sex, birthplace, language, personal beliefs, or other reasons, each member of the group will be subjected to either the death penalty or life imprisonment or a minimum of seven years imprisonment along with the possibility of a fine, according to the new provision.
DEATH PENALTY FOR RAPE OF MINOR, 20 YEARS PRISON FOR RAPE
The upcoming bills suggest modifications in the penalties for rape. Specifically, the Minister revealed in the Lok Sabha that there will be provisions for imposing the death penalty in cases of rape involving minors.
The term ‘life imprisonment’ has been precisely defined as ‘imprisonment for natural life’. According to the new law, individuals found guilty “shall be sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for a duration not less than ten years, extendable to lifelong imprisonment, which denotes incarceration for the remainder of that individual’s natural life. Additionally, a fine may also be imposed.” The proposed legislation also addresses the penalties for revealing the identity of rape survivors.
Amit Shah wants these changes to be about justice more than punishment.
Amit Shah wants these changes to be about justice more than punishment. He wants to deal with serious problems like terrorism and violence against women. He believes these new rules will make things better and fairer for everyone. He thinks that it’s time to move away from old laws that were more about punishment and bring in new ones that focus on justice and equality.
Amit Shah has a plan to make the legal system work better. He wants to increase the number of people who are found guilty to over 90%. For serious crimes that can put people in jail for more than seven years, he wants to have special teams of experts to look into the evidence. This will help make sure that criminals don’t get away with their actions. He also wants to make all court processes digital by 2027. This means that people can use computers for legal processes, making things faster and easier.
In cases of rape, Amit Shah’s plan includes recording statements on video. This way, there is a clear record of what happened and what the victim said.
He also wants to speed up investigations and trials. He says that reports about crimes must be ready within three months of the complaint being made, and investigations must be finished within six months for all cases. Verdicts from judges should also be given within a month of charges being framed. Orders and decisions from judges should be available online within a week, making things more transparent and efficient.
Amit Shah believes that these changes are in line with what the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, talked about before. He wants the legal system to be fair and helpful to everyone. By getting rid of old laws and bringing in new ones, India is working towards a fairer and more equal society. By dismantling colonial-era statutes and embracing a contemporary legal framework, it is hoped equal justice will prevail.