Ending Injustice new criminal justice bills: India’s New Laws to Ensure Swift Justice, Death Penalty for Heinous Crimes

New Criminal Justice Bills: The Central Government has issued a notification on Friday (February 24) to implement the three new criminal laws from July 1, 2024. All three new criminal laws will replace the Indian Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Code and Evidence Act.  

All three new criminal justice bills were approved by President Draupadi Murmu in December. With this, these three new bills became laws. This includes the Indian Judicial Code, Indian Civil Code and Indian Evidence Act. After the issuance of the notification, now these three new criminal laws will replace the old laws. 

Will get relief from the laws of British era  

The main objective of these three laws is to change the criminal justice system in the country which was running on the laws dating back to the British era. The crime of treason has also been abolished in these laws. The government has completely abolished section 124 (A) of treason in the new law and changed it to treason. A new section of committing crimes against the state has been included in it. In this new law, crimes like armed rebellion, subversive activities, crimes endangering sovereignty or unity, separatist activities have been included in treason. 

Provision of life imprisonment for harming unity and integrity 

Under this new law, if anyone verbally or in writing or symbolically promotes such activities or even attempts to harm unity and integrity, then there is a provision for life imprisonment. . Apart from this, the provision of penalty has also been included in the new law.  

Provision for strict punishment on mob lynching in new laws 

Apart from this, in these new laws, mob lynching, that is, when a group of 5 or more people together kills on the basis of caste or community etc., then every member of the group will be given life imprisonment. Under the new laws, those guilty of raping a minor can now be given death sentence. Home Minister Amit Shah had also called mob lynching a heinous crime and had talked about the provision of death penalty in the new laws for this crime in the Parliament.

Law to deal strictly with terrorist activities  

Apart from this, in the new law, terrorist acts, which were earlier part of special laws like Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, have now been included in the Indian Judicial Code. At the same time, provisions have been made in the new laws to crack down on small organized crimes like pickpocketing. Along with such crimes, provisions have also been made in the new law to deal with organized crime. Earlier, states had their own laws to deal with such organized crimes. 

Let us tell you, the Indian Civil Defense (Second) Code 2023 will replace the Criminal Procedure Code 1973 (CrPC). CrPC is for arrest, prosecution and bail. The Indian Evidence (Second) Bill 2023 (BSB2) will replace the Indian Evidence Act 1872.