New Delhi [India], After the new penal laws came into effect on Monday, Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said these laws were passed in Parliament after suspending nearly 150 parliamentarians and without discussions.
Talking about the new laws that have come into force, the CPI(M) leader said that they go against the democratic rights of the public.
"Police custody has been increased from 15 days to 60 days... This is an attack on the democratic rights of the public..." Yechury said.
Calling for the suspension of the new criminal laws, Yechury said: "After holding a debate on the criminal laws with all stakeholders, they should be improved. Until then, the laws should be suspended..."
The new penal laws, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and Bharatiya Sakshya Sanhita came into force from midnight on July 1.
The three new laws received approval from Parliament on December 21, 2023. President Droupadi Murmu gave her approval on December 25, 2023 and it was published in the official gazette on the same day. Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita has 358 sections (instead of 511 sections in the IPC). A total of 20 new crimes have been added to the bill and the prison sentence has been increased for 33 of them. The amount of the fine has been increased in 83 crimes and the mandatory minimum sentence has been introduced in 23 crimes. Community service has been introduced for six crimes and 19 articles have been repealed or removed from the bill.
Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita has 531 sections (instead of 484 sections of CrPC). In total, 177 provisions of the bill were modified and nine new articles and 39 new subarticles were added. The bill has added 44 new provisions and clarifications. Timelines were added to 35 sections and audio and video provision was added in 35 places. In Sanhita, a total of 14 articles have been repealed and eliminated.
Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam has 170 provisions (instead of the original 167 provisions, and a total of 24 provisions have been amended. Two new provisions and six sub-provisions have been added and six provisions have been repealed or deleted in the Adhiniyam.
Talking about the new laws that have come into force, the CPI(M) leader said that they go against the democratic rights of the public.
"Police custody has been increased from 15 days to 60 days... This is an attack on the democratic rights of the public..." Yechury said.
Calling for the suspension of the new criminal laws, Yechury said: "After holding a debate on the criminal laws with all stakeholders, they should be improved. Until then, the laws should be suspended..."
The new penal laws, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and Bharatiya Sakshya Sanhita came into force from midnight on July 1.
The three new laws received approval from Parliament on December 21, 2023. President Droupadi Murmu gave her approval on December 25, 2023 and it was published in the official gazette on the same day. Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita has 358 sections (instead of 511 sections in the IPC). A total of 20 new crimes have been added to the bill and the prison sentence has been increased for 33 of them. The amount of the fine has been increased in 83 crimes and the mandatory minimum sentence has been introduced in 23 crimes. Community service has been introduced for six crimes and 19 articles have been repealed or removed from the bill.
Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita has 531 sections (instead of 484 sections of CrPC). In total, 177 provisions of the bill were modified and nine new articles and 39 new subarticles were added. The bill has added 44 new provisions and clarifications. Timelines were added to 35 sections and audio and video provision was added in 35 places. In Sanhita, a total of 14 articles have been repealed and eliminated.
Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam has 170 provisions (instead of the original 167 provisions, and a total of 24 provisions have been amended. Two new provisions and six sub-provisions have been added and six provisions have been repealed or deleted in the Adhiniyam.