Centre brings Bill to replace IPC, CrPC & Indian Evidence Act in Lok Sabha

The Central Government introduced three bills in the Lok Sabha today to repeal and replace the Indian Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and the Indian Evidence Act.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah introduced the following bills in the Lok Sabha;

The Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (to consolidate and amend the provisions relating to offences and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto).

The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (to consolidate and amend the law relating to Criminal Procedure and for matters connected herewith or incidental thereto).

The Bhartiya Saksha Bill, 2023 (to consolidate and to provide for general rules and principles of evidence for fair trial).

These bills were listed for introduction in the supplementary list of business. After the introduction of these three Bills, they were referred to the Standing Committee on Home Affairs.

In March 2020, the Central Government had constituted a Criminal Law Reforms Committee to make suggestions to revise IPC, CrPC, and the Indian Evidence Act 1872. The Committee was led by Professor Dr. Ranbir Singh, the then VC of the National Law University of Delhi, and consisted of Professor Dr. GS Bajpai, the then Registrar of NLU-D, Professor Dr. Balraj Chauhan, the VC of DNLU, former District & Sessions Judge, Delhi and Senior Advocate Mahesh Jethmalani and GP Thareja.

The Committee submitted a report to the Government after it sought suggestions from the public in February 2022. In April 2022, the Law Ministry had told the Rajya Sabha that the Government has initiated a process of comprehensive review of the Criminal Laws.

Last year, Home Minister had also committed that the Government will soon introduce new drafts for IPC, CrPC, and Evidence Act.

News Source: https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/centre-to-introduce-bills-to-replace-ipc-crpc-and-indian-evidence-act-in-lok-sabha-234975