In a significant move to revamp the country’s criminal justice system, the Lok Sabha (Parliament of India) recently passed three crucial Bills that aim to replace colonial-era laws. These bills include the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023; Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023; and Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, 2023, which will substitute the Indian Penal Code (IPC) of 1860; Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) of 1973 (originally enacted in 1898), and the Indian Evidence Act of 1872, respectively. The move is part of a broader initiative to modernize and streamline the criminal justice framework in India.
Legislative Overhaul
The passing of these Bills in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, through a voice note amid the absence of 97 Opposition members due to suspension, signifies a transformative step in the Indian legal landscape. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, responding to the debate on the Bills, emphasized their primary focus on delivering speedy justice rather than merely focusing on punitive measures.
Upcoming Bills for Consideration
The official agenda for the Lok Sabha on Thursday includes two key Bills for consideration and passing: The Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service, and Term of Office) Bill, 2023, and The Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023. The former aims to regulate the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and two Election Commissioners (ECs) through a three-member selection committee comprising the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, and a Cabinet Minister. The latter seeks to replace the existing Press and Registration of Books (PRB) Act, 1867, governing the registration of the print and publishing industry in India.
Ongoing Political Standoff
While legislative activities continue, a standoff persists between the government and the Opposition. Opposition MPs, suspended from the Lok Sabha, are expected to continue their protests within and outside Parliament. A planned demonstration at Jantar Mantar on Thursday underscores the political tension prevailing in the country.
All India Congress Working Committee Meeting
In the midst of the political unrest, All India Congress Committee (AICC) chief Mallikarjun Kharge has called for a meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) on Thursday. The CWC, the party’s highest decision-making body, will deliberate on plans and preparations for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The meeting follows the INDIA alliance’s Delhi conclave, where Opposition parties discussed strategies and roadmaps for the upcoming elections.
Enforcement Directorate Summons to Kejriwal
In a separate development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) issued fresh summons to Delhi Chief Minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal to appear before it on Thursday in connection with the Delhi excise policy case. However, Kejriwal, currently on a Vipassana session, will not be able to comply with the summons. AAP leaders asserted that the Vipassana session was pre-scheduled and publicly known, adding that legal consultations would determine the response to the ED summons.
Gyanvapi Case Hearing
The ongoing legal saga surrounding the Gyanvapi mosque complex takes a step forward on Thursday. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) submitted a survey report in a sealed cover on Monday, as directed by the district court. The survey, ordered on July 21, aims to explore beneath the mosque’s domes, cellars, and western wall without causing damage to the structure. The court’s directive was in response to a plea filed by a group of women seeking the right to worship Hindu deities on the mosque’s outer wall. The case has witnessed challenges from the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid committee in higher courts, with the Supreme Court instructing the ASI to avoid any invasive acts during the survey.
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