PUCL Writes To Law Minister To Postpone Implementation of New Criminal Laws (image-twitter/mygovindia)
People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) has written a letter to Law Minister Arjun Meghwal requesting for the postponement of the implementation of the controversial criminal laws beyond 1st July. Further, they have requested a national discussion on the nature, need, scope, and content of the three laws, reports Live Law.
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The laws, viz. Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita(BNSS), and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) are set to replace the Indian Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Indian Evidence Act, respectively, with effect from July 1, 2024.
The letter also highlighted that though the Law minister has recently stated that the implementation of the bill was done after extensive discussions, with many opposition leaders suspended from the Parliament, an effective discussion did not take place.
It is to be noted that on December 20, when the bill was passed in the Parliament, 141 Opposition MPs were suspended. A critical analysis of these laws, reflecting the experiences and views of the practitioners such as criminal lawyers, law enforcement agencies, judicial officers, and ordinary citizens, did not take place.
With the freshly elected members, a public discussion can be organized in the backdrop of a new parliament session, as its delay in implementation will not lead to the fall of heaven, the letter added.
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The letter further highlighted the critical issues for the Government to consider regarding the postponement and review of these laws.
While talking in a seminar organized by PUCL in Chennai on Thursday, V.Suresh, general secretary of PUCL pointed out that the Parliamentary Sub-Committee on Home Affairs itself noted that the bulk of the content of the three laws is nothing but a repetition from the existing laws.
