The Union Government had officially notified the commencement date for the enforcement of three groundbreaking criminal laws – Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam. According to notifications issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs ( MHA ) today, these laws are set to come into effect on July 1, 2024.
Indian Penal Code
The Indian Penal Code ( IPC ) as a statute has survived and flourished over the last 160 years, which speaks volumes about its effectiveness as a penal code of high stature. However, over these years it has not been able to shed away some of its provisions that reek of colonialism e.g. sedition. The Malimath Committee report while advocating criminal justice reforms has provided the Parliament with an opportunity to revamp the Code and other criminal laws.
Code of Criminal Procedure
The first version of the Code of Criminal Procedure was enacted in 1861, following the passing of the Indian Penal Code in 1860. Act 10 of 1882 eventually replaced the Code. There have been sixteen pieces of legislation relating to criminal procedure passed since 1882.
Evidence Act
Now the task of drafting a suitable code for Evidence Law came upon the shoulders of Sir James Fitzjames Stephens, which he completed and culminated into what we know today as Indian Evidence Act, 1872. In 1868, a commission was set up to frame a draft code and 39 sections were included in the code.
The code was termed as irrelevant to India and was dropped. In the year of 1870, a new bill containing 163 sections in a form different from the present Evidence Act of 1872 was prepared by James Stephen which he re-casted and ultimately Indian Evidence Act, 1872 was passed. After the partition, the act applied to both the nation, India and Pakistan except the territory of Jammu & Kashmir.
The MHA notification stated, “In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 1 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (45 of 2023), the Central Government hereby appoints the 1st day of July, 2024, as the date on which the provisions of the said Sanhita, except the provision of sub-section (2) of section 106, shall come into force.”
These new laws, designed to replace the existing Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, and Indian Evidence Act, were unanimously passed by the Parliament on December 21, 2023. The President provided assent on December 25, 2023. It is noteworthy that the statutes explicitly mentioned their effective date would be determined by the Union Government.
As the Union Government officially notifies the commencement date for the enforcement of three groundbreaking criminal laws – Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam – scheduled to come into effect on July 1, 2024, it becomes imperative for both legal practitioners and citizens alike to thoroughly familiarize themselves with these statutes.
These new laws are poised to replace foundational legal frameworks such as the Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, and Indian Evidence Act, marking a significant shift in the country’s legal landscape.
Given the intricate nature of legal proceedings and the potential ramifications of non-compliance, it is crucial for legal practitioners to grasp the intricacies of these statutes well in advance of their implementation. Likewise, for citizens, understanding their rights, obligations, and the legal framework governing their conduct is essential for ensuring compliance and safeguarding against inadvertent violations.
Shopscan.in has custom tailored combos and standalone offerings of the latest edition of the laws in bare act form to perfectly complement your legal practice or law college studies, or even to fuel your enthusiasm as a law-abiding-citizen.
Must Grab Bare Acts and Combos before these newly enacted laws are set to come into effect on July 1, 2024:
Bare Act Combos and Compilations
Bare Acts
Therefore, obtaining and studying the bare acts or comprehensive compilations of these laws before their enforcement becomes paramount for both legal professionals and ordinary citizens, facilitating a smooth transition and ensuring adherence to the new criminal law regime.
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