Beginning on July 1, three new laws known as Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) will significantly alter India's criminal justice system. The Indian Penal Code (IPC), Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and Indian Evidence Act from the colonial era are replaced, respectively, by these laws.
Home Minister Amit Shah led the charge for the new laws, which were approved by Parliament in December of last year. The laws represent a substantial shift from British-era legislation since they prioritize justice over punishment. Asserting that these laws represent Indian values in their soul, body, and spirit, Shah emphasized that they were written by Indians for Indians, signifying the repeal of colonial criminal laws.
Each of the 17500 police stations in the nation in the nation will hold special events to commemorate the implementation of these laws, explaining the main provisions to women, youth, students, senior citizens, and prominent figures.
First case was filed-
In Delhi a street vendor was charged with obstruction of a roadway near the New Delhi railway station in the first case brought under the new criminal codes. Section 285 of the BNS which punishes anyone who mismanages property in their possession and creates danger obstruction or injury on a public way or navigation line is where this FIR was filed.
According to the section there could be a ₹5000 fine. The Delhi incident started when a police patrol noticed a street vendor on the street selling gutkha and water bottles. The vendor who was identified as Pankaj Kumar from Patna Bihar refused to move despite several requests to do so. As a result the police used the e-praman application to record the vendors non-compliance and obstruction in an FIR. A copy of the FIR states that the public was experiencing severe inconvenience as a result of Kumars improvised booth.
Punnishment for the accused-
If any individual is fould guilty for doing anly of the mentioned activities like; armed rebellion, subversive operations, separatist activities, and any act that threatens India's sovereignty, unity, and integrity. He/She would be liable to punishment, that includes death penalty, life imprisonment, fines or jail upto seven years for various offences.
Detail discription about the three Criminal law's-
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)
With 21 new offenses and fewer sections—from 511 to 358—the 163-year-old IPC is replaced by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). It is noteworthy for the fact that it labels crimes based on race, caste, or community as distinct offenses and punishes deceptive sexual relations. The definitions of terror and organized crime are extensive, and there is specific discussion of mob lynching. Community service is another new punishment introduced by the BNS.
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS)
The victim-centric Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which replaced the CrPC, improves procedural law. It introduces trials in absentia and sets stricter deadlines for trial completion. With the BNSS, a person can now be detained in police custody for 90 days instead of just 15, and any police station can now file a FIR thanks to the introduction of Zero FIR. . Electronic service of summonses is available, and every state requires participation in the Witness Protection Program.
Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA)
The Indian Evidence Act is updated under the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), which also permits the taking of oral evidence electronically and incorporates digital and electronic records as evidence. In order to guarantee openness and victim protection, it also requires audio-video recording of victim statements in rape cases and broadens the definition of secondary evidence to include written and verbal admissions.