New Delhi, July 1 (IANS) India’s criminal justice system underwent a significant transformation with the implementation of three new laws — Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA).

These laws, which came into force on Monday, replaced the longstanding British-era statutes: the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), and the Indian Evidence Act.

All across the country, new FIRs were registered under these modernised laws, marking a departure from the previous legal frameworks. However, cases filed before July 1 will continue under the old laws until they reach their final conclusion.

The journey towards these reforms began six months ago when the laws were enacted, following extensive consultations with key stakeholders such as Supreme Court judges, governors, civil servants, police officers, and lawmakers.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah played a pivotal role, conducting 158 meetings and incorporating around 3,200 suggestions into the drafting process.

The laws were scrutinised by a Parliamentary committee, with most recommendations being accepted before being presented to Parliament for approval. The consultation process took four years before enactment of the laws six months ago.

Key features of the new laws include:

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) has been streamlined to 358 sections, down from 511 in the IPC, incorporating 21 new crimes, increased penalties for 82 offences, and introducing minimum punishments for 25 crimes.

Duration of imprisonment has been extended in 41 crimes.

Moreover, community service has been introduced as a penalty in six crimes. Around 19 sections have been removed.

Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) now comprises 531 sections, with modifications to 177 sections, including additions of nine new sections and 39 sub-sections, and deletions of 14 sections.

Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) replaces the Indian Evidence Act (166 sections) with 170 sections, making changes to 24 sections and adding two new sub-sections while removing six sections.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had articulated the ethos behind these reforms as “citizen first, dignity first, and justice first,” emphasising a shift from traditional policing methods (‘danda’) to modern data-driven approaches.

The new laws also prioritise swift justice for crimes against women and children, ensuring completion of investigations within two months of filing. Victims are entitled to regular updates on their cases within 90 days, and courts are empowered to limit adjournments to expedite proceedings.

In Parliament, Amit Shah underscored that the focus of these reforms is on enhancing justice delivery while safeguarding the rights of both victims and accused individuals, moving away from punitive measures alone.

The overhaul aims to rid the legal system of colonial-era vestiges and enable online reporting of crimes, allowing for more accessible and transparent law enforcement.

These legislative changes mark a significant step towards modernising India’s criminal justice system, aligning it with contemporary needs and global standards.

–IANS

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Kolkata, July 1 (IANS) Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha member from Krishnanagar constituency in Nadia district of West Bengal Mahua Moitra launched a scathing attack against BJP on the floor of the house on Monday, saying that the ruling party has paid heavily for “throttling” her voice.

“The last time I stood here I was not allowed to speak. But the ruling party has paid a very heavy price for throttling the voice of one MP. In an attempt to suppress me, the public made 63 of your members sit permanently. You have gone down from 303 to 240,” Moitra said on the floor of the house.

She was expelled from the Lok Sabha in her previous term in reference to a “cash for query” controversy.

She said that the Central government is not stable because of BJP’s minority status for which the party has to depend on its allies to keep the government running. She also predicted that the current NDA government might collapse anytime.

In 2019, Moitra got elected from Krishnanagar constituency defeating BJP’s Kalyan Chaubey by a margin of 63,218 votes. In November last year, she was expelled from the Lok Sabha following a recommendation of the Parliamentary Ethics Panel for her expulsion in connection with a “cash for query” controversy.

In 2024 she was re-nominated by Trinamool Congress from Krishnanagar and she got elected again defeating BJP’s Amrita Roy, a member of the royal family of Krishnanagar. However, this time her winning margin declined to 56,705.

–IANS

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Amritsar, July 1 (IANS) A rebel group of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Monday submitted a letter to the Akal Takht Jathedar in the Golden Temple complex here, seeking an apology for incidents during the party’s 10-year stint in Punjab from 2007.

The incidents comprise hurting religious sentiments of the Sikh community by self-styled godman and Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh by allegedly performing an imitation of Guru Gobind Singh at the sect’s dera in 2007, sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib in 2015 and appointment of Director General of Police (DGP) Sumedh Saini.

The rebels, comprising former MP Prem Singh Chandumajra, former Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) Chief Bibi Jagir Kaur, and former minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa, appealed to Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh that they “are ready to face any punishment that the Akal Takht may deem appropriate.”

In a letter to the Akal Takht Jathedar, they “admitted guilt” over “mistakes committed” by the party leadership that have “hurt” the Sikh Panth.

The letter claimed that Sukhbir Badal, now Akali Dal Chief, allegedly used his influence to pardon the Dera Sacha Sauda chief in the blasphemy case.

“You can call the then jathedar of Sri Akal Takht and seek his clarification,” reads the letter.

“But the leadership of the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Shiromani committee had to withdraw this decision keeping in mind the anger and resentment of the Sikh panth,” it added.

The Akal Takht had pardoned the Dera Sacha Sauda Chief in the blasphemy case in a written apology in 2015.

The President of the Akali Dal and ex-Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal on December 15, 2023, expressed his regret while speaking at the 103rd foundation day of the party for the failure to apprehend the individuals responsible for the sacrilege incidents.

Meanwhile, the Istri Akali Dal on Monday expressed faith in the leadership of Akali Dal Chief Sukhbir Badal and said he was best suited to lead the party at this juncture.

The entire rank and file of the Istri Akali Dal said party president Sukhbir Badal had provided inspiring leadership to lead an effective campaign in the form of the Punjab Bachao Yatra.

The members said the Istri Akali Dal had reached out to the women and a concerted effort in Bathinda by its president Hargobind Kaur had paid dividends with party candidate Harsimrat Kaur Badal winning the seat with a handsome margin.

Speaking on the occasion, the SAD President said the party had chalked out a plan to expand the Istri Akali Dal and ensure it reached every village and booth in the State.

“We have decided to ensure the election of booth, village, circle and constituency level committees headed by their respective presidents. We will also ensure election of district-level committees of the Istri Akali Dal”.

Sukhbir Badal said the party would also create an effective women leadership in the party so that strong candidates could be fielded for block samiti and zila parishad polls for seats reserved for women candidates.

–IANS

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Kolkata, July 1 (IANS) The West Bengal police on Monday issued a show-cause notice to the inspector-in-charge of Chopra police station in North Dinajpur district in connection with the assault on a woman publicly at a kangaroo court there by a local Trinamool Congress leader Tejemul a.k.a. JCB.

In a statement issued by the police, it has been claimed that besides slapping the show-cause notice on the police officer, the victim has also been provided with police security.

However, in the same statement the police has criticized an alleged attempt to create a political controversy over the entire issue.

“Malicious efforts are being made from certain quarters to spread misinformation and lend political colour to a recent incident in Chopra PS under Islampur PD, where one lady was publicly assaulted. The fact is, on knowing about the incident police have promptly identified the culprit and arrested him. A suo moto case has been started in the matter and an investigation is on. The victim has been provided police security. IC Chopra has been show-caused over the incident,” the statement read, a copy of which is available with IANS.

Meanwhile, information has surfaced that JCB was a habitual offender in summoning such kangaroo courts and punishing people by assaulting them publicly. According to a local BJP leader from Chopra, Bhabesh Kar, such actions by JCB have been quite common. “He has established a reign of terror in the region for the last few years, ” Kar said.

Kar’s allegations have been echoed by the local Congress and CPI(M) leaders who have claimed that mercilessly beating up people in public for not obeying his unjustified commands was JCB’s habit.

–IANS

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Agartala, July 1 (IANS) Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said that dignity of women is completely lost under the ‘Taliban regime’ of Trinamool in West Bengal.

The Tripura Chief Minister, while reacting after a video clip on the brutal assault on a couple allegedly engaged in an ‘extra-marital relationship’ went viral, sparking widespread outrage, said that every village in West Bengal has become Sandeshkhali.

The incidents of atrocities in Sandeshkhali was a major poll plank of the opposition parties during the recent Lok Sabha elections after alleged atrocities by the Trinamool Congress leaders on the villagers.

The man who was seen in the video torturing the couple publicly with a bamboo stick was allegedly a local ruling Trinamool Congress leader of Chopra in North Dinajpur district where the incident occurred following the decision of a ‘kangaroo court’.

The police later arrested the Trinamool Congress leader Tajemul a.k.a. JCB.

The Tripura Chief Minister, taking to X, said: “Today, the dignity of women is completely lost under the Taliban regime of Trinamool in West Bengal.”

“Today, every village in Bengal has become Sandeshkhali! Such diabolical torture of women by the notorious Trinamool-sponsored miscreant Tajemul in broad daylight under the rule of a woman Chief Minister is absolutely unacceptable. I strongly condemn this incident and demand strict punishment for the culprits,” Saha said.

The ruling BJP in the state also strongly condemned the Chopra incident.

BJP spokesperson Nabendu Bhattacharjee said that heinous atrocities on the people specially on the women which are taking place almost everyday in Trinamool Congress-ruled Bengal, does not take place in the world.

“If the people could cast their votes in the recent Lok Sabha elections in Bengal, the results have been otherwise,” Bhattacharjee, who was in Bengal during the Parliamentary polls, told the media on Monday.

He alleged that the Trinamool Congress goons are openly torturing women in almost all districts of Bengal and the police remain a spectator.

–IANS

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