Hyderabad: Telangana Prepares for Implementation of New Criminal Laws
Hyderabad: Telangana has instituted comprehensive measures to implement three new criminal laws: the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, which will come into effect on July 1, according to a senior official.
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill was initially introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 11 of the previous year, along with the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam Bills. These bills received Parliament’s approval on December 21 and were subsequently signed into law by President Droupadi Murmu on December 25. According to notifications issued by the Union Home Ministry, the provisions of the new laws will become operative on July 1.
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) is the new criminal code of India, comprising 358 sections. It replaces the 163-year-old Indian Penal Code, which contained 511 sections. The BNS modernizes the legal framework by addressing issues such as marital rape, organized crime, and cybercrime. Additionally, it introduces community service as a potential punishment.
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS), aims to replace the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC). The CrPC outlines the procedures for arrest, prosecution, and bail. The BNSS mandates forensic investigations for offenses punishable by seven years of imprisonment or more.
A notable feature of the BNSS is that it allows up to 15 days of police custody, which can be authorized in parts during the initial 40 or 60 days of the 60 or 90-day period of judicial custody. This provision may result in the denial of bail for the entire period if the police have not exhausted the 15-day custody period. Furthermore, it denies bail to individuals facing multiple charges.
Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) The Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) replaces the outdated Indian Evidence Act. It addresses the challenges posed by the digital age, granting electronic records equal standing with traditional documents as evidence, thereby making legal proceedings more adaptable to modern realities.
