New Delhi: During the monsoon session, Home Minister presented the CrPC Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha on Friday. He said that through this bill, there will be a comprehensive change in these old laws made during the time of the British. HM said that there was a deep discussion on these for four years and the laws of the British era will no longer work. He said that we are removing the laws which are full of signs of slavery and we are bringing laws which provide justice, not punishment. These new laws will be sent to the Standing Committee on Home Affairs of Parliament.
What is This bill About
The CRPC amendment bill presented today in the Indian parliament is the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita Bill, 2023. It is one of the three bills introduced by the Union Home Minister to replace the British-era laws of the Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure and Indian Evidence Act. The bill aims to consolidate and amend the law relating to criminal procedure and to protect the rights of Indian citizens. Some of the key features of the bill are:
- It repeals nine provisions of the CrPC, proposes amendments to 107 provisions and introduces nine new sections.
- It abolishes the provision of sedition offences in the new bill replacing the IPC.
- It makes it mandatory for forensic teams to visit the crime scene in cases where the punishment is seven years or more.
- It provides for speedy trials, victim compensation, witness protection, plea bargaining and alternative dispute resolution.
- It empowers the police to arrest without warrant any person who commits a cognizable offence in their presence or has a reasonable suspicion of being involved in such an offence.
- It also empowers the police to conduct searches and seizures without a warrant under certain circumstances and to use reasonable force if necessary.
The bill has been referred to a parliamentary panel for further scrutiny before it is passed by both houses of parliament. The bill is expected to bring a major change in the criminal justice system in the country and make it more citizen-centric and effective.
