“New criminal laws passed after suspending 150 MPs, without discussions”: CPI-M’s Sitaram Yechury

New Delhi [India], July 1 (ANI): After the new criminal laws came into effect on Monday, Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said that these laws were passed in the Parliament after suspending almost 150 MPs and with no discussions.

Speaking about the new laws that have come into effect the CPI(M) leader said that they are against the democratic rights of the public.

“The police custody has been increased from 15 days to 60 days…This is an attack on the democratic rights of the public…,” Yechury said.

Calling for a suspension of the new criminal laws, Yechury said, “After holding a discussion on criminal laws with all stakeholders, they should be improved. Until then, the laws should be suspended…”

The new criminal laws, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Sanhita came into effect from July 1 midnight.

The three new laws received Parliament’s nod on December 21, 2023. President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent on December 25, 2023, and was published in the official gazette on the same day. (ANI)Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita has 358 sections (instead of 511 sections in the IPC). A total of 20 new crimes have been added to the bill, and the imprisonment sentence has been increased for 33 of them. The amount of the fine has been increased in 83 crimes and mandatory minimum punishment has been introduced in 23 crimes. The penalty of community service has been introduced for six crimes and 19 sections have been repealed or removed from the bill.

Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita has 531 sections (in place of 484 sections of CrPC). A total of 177 provisions have been changed in the bill, and nine new sections as well as 39 new sub-sections have been added to it. The draft act has added 44 new provisions and clarifications. Timelines have been added to 35 sections and audio-video provision has been added at 35 places. A total of 14 sections have been repealed and removed in the Sanhita.

Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam has 170 provisions (instead of the original 167 provisions, and a total of 24 provisions have been changed. Two new provisions and six sub-provisions have been added and six provisions have been repealed or deleted in the Adhiniyam.