Parliamentary Committee on Home Affairs Gathers to Finalize Draft Reports for New Bills

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs is scheduled to convene a meeting in the national capital on Monday to deliberate and adopt draft reports concerning ‘The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023,’ ‘The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023,’ and ‘The Bharatiya Sakshya Bill 2023.’ The meeting is set to take place on November 6, 2023, in Committee Room “2,” PHA-Extension, New Delhi.

Draft Report No. 246 on ‘The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023,’ Draft Report No. 247 on ‘The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023,’ and Draft Report No. 248 on ‘The Bharatiya Sakshya Bill 2023’ will be considered for adoption during the meeting.

These bills, ‘The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023,’ ‘The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023,’ and ‘The Bharatiya Sakshya Bill 2023,’ were introduced in the Lower House of Parliament on August 11, aiming to replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC) 1860, Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) 1973, and the Indian Evidence Act 1872, respectively.

During the introduction of these bills, Home Minister Amit Shah emphasized that the objective of these laws is to protect the rights granted by the Constitution to Indian citizens. He highlighted the need to move away from British-era laws designed to uphold colonial rule and punishment and shift towards a system that prioritizes justice and crime prevention.

The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita Bill, replacing the CrPC, will have 533 sections, with significant amendments and additions. Similarly, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill, replacing the IPC, will consist of 356 sections, featuring substantial amendments and revisions. The Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, which replaces the Evidence Act, will encompass 170 sections, incorporating changes and updates.