Parliament Winter Session Highlights: Three criminal bills passed in Rajya Sabha unanimously in absence of Oppn MPs

Upon the passage of Bills to replace the IPC, CrPC, and Evidence Act, BJP MP Dinesh Sharma said, “I believe this was a historic moment in which not only were major changes made to laws that were 150-200 years old, but also to ensure speedy justice and good governance.”

(PTI)

-The new laws establish severe penalties for crimes against women and address loopholes by defining organized crime.

-Hit-and-run cases will incur a 10-year imprisonment penalty. However, leniency is exercised in road accident scenarios where the accused promptly attends to victims by taking them to the hospital, as highlighted by Union minister Amit Shah in the Parliament.

-The bills outline specific timelines for various stages, starting from FIR registration to investigation and filing of charge sheets.

-In cases involving accused individuals, such as those related to bomb blasts or economic offenses, who attempt to evade justice, trials in absentia will be conducted, Shah mentioned.

-Shah emphasised the introduction of a timeframe for filing mercy petitions. Specifically, only individuals convicted and on death row are eligible to submit such pleas within 30 days after the Supreme Court confirms the punishment. Others are not permitted to file such appeals.

PM Modi said, “The passage of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 is a watershed moment in our history. These Bills mark the end of colonial-era laws. A new era begins with laws centered on public service and welfare.”

Rajya Sabha adjourned sine die

“This is historic. These three bills passed unanimously,” Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankar said.

Three criminal bills — Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita, and Bharatiya Saksha (Second) Bill — passed in Rajya Sabha.

Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita, Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita passed in RS

“We have clearly defined economic offences in new criminal laws,” says Amit Shah.

“82 per cent of work of integration of various databases completed before passage of new criminal law bills,” said Amit Shah in Rajya Sabha.

"We had been deliberating and discussing on this since August 2019. I feel joyous to be presenting this today. Not just the names of laws have been changed, but major changes have been made in their objectives. Indian Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Code and Evidence Act were formulated to safeguard the British rule," says Union Home Minister Amit Shah while speaking in Rajya Sabha on Bills replacing IPC, CrPC and Evidence Act.

“The order of the sections (in the current criminal laws) show that looting the treasury, breaking the railway tracks and conspiring against the British rule were prioritised over murder and crimes against women.”

"The three Bills I have tabled today are not intended at punishing, but giving justice," he added.

"The soul of these laws is Indian and for the first time, our criminal justice system will be governed by laws made by India, for India and made in Indian Parliament."

“I congratulate the people of India on the passage of the Bills. The resolve of our government was to remove the laws made by Britishers for their gains and bring laws beneficial for our countrymen,” says BJP MP Nirahua Hindustani on Bills replacing IPC, CrPC and Evidence Act.

"All the amendments and decisions have been taken for this session, but it would have been better if the opposition leaders were present in the Parliament,” says BSP MP Malook Nagar on mass suspension of MPs.

“The new Bills have done away with one of the symbols of slavery in India. The new laws have been brought keeping in mind the spirit of India. This is our own law and the whole country is hopeful about this,” says BJP MP Pragya Thakur.

"They were trying to cause disturbance in the Parliament, and the opposition leaders had no motivation to work in people's interest," says Union MoS Ashwini K Choubey on mass suspension of MPs.

“12 historic bills have been passed. People will not need to run around for justice anymore. They will find solutions at one place. The era of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita has begun and Bhartiya Dand Sanhita has ended,” says BJP MP Manoj Tiwari.

Those responsible for protecting MPs have failed in their constitutional duties, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday, in an apparent attack on the Lok Sabha speaker and the Rajya Sabha chairman over the suspension of opposition members from the two Houses of Parliament.

Addressing party leaders at a crucial meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), Kharge also said his party has learnt valuable lessons from the recent assembly polls and urged party workers to focus on the 2024 Lok Sabha elections now.

This is the first meeting of the Congress' highest decision-making body after the party's poor showing in the assembly polls.

PTI

Lok Sabha adjourned sine die, day before schedule

Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023, passed in Lok Sabha through voice vote

The government on Thursday moved three bills in the Rajya Sabha for consideration and passage to replace the colonial-era criminal laws.

Home Minister Amit Shah moved the motion for passage of the three redrafted bills -- the Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Bills in Rajya Sabha.

The Lok Sabha had passed these bills on Wednesday.

These bills will replace the Indian Penal Code-1860, the Code of Criminal Procedure Act-1898, and the Indian Evidence Act of 1872, respectively.

Initiating a debate on them, BJP's Brijalal said they will end the colonial legacy.

PTI

Coming down heavily at the BJP-led Centre, Nationalist Congress Party leader Supriya Sule on Thursday said the bulk suspension of Opposition MPs from both Houses of Parliament represents the 'murder of democracy'.

As many as 143 Opposition members from both Houses were suspended for raising a ruckus and disrupting proceedings over their demand for a statement from Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the December 13 Parliament security breach incident.

Speaking to ANI on Thursday, the suspended MP drew a parallel between the prevailing state of affairs with the National Emergency, which was imposed in the country under the Prime Ministership of Indira Gandhi in 1975, saying that it seems as if an undeclared Emergency has been imposed all over again.

"This is a murder of democracy, an insult to the Constitution. The country is run by the Constitution, and I condemn the way (over) 140 MPs have been suspended. It seems that an Emergency has been imposed in the country," she said.

ANI

The impasse in the Parliament over the suspension of 144 MPs continued on Thursday, with the INDIA bloc leaders mounting a protest march till Vijay Chowk. Inside the Lok Sabha, meanwhile, Speaker Om Birla warned three more Congress MPs against "unruly behaviour" -- the ground for the suspension -- and he had not acted against anyone without any reason.

"Since 13th December, Opposition parties have been demanding the statement of the Union Home Minister on the security breach incident. But the concerned minister made statements outside the House while Opposition MPs were suspended for demanding the same. Never in history, our voice has been strangulated like this," says DMK MP Tiruchi Siva.

"Had they (PM and Home Minister) given the statement on that very day (Dec 13), there would have been no obstacle. We want to participate in the discussions on crucial bills, they ignored us and started suspending people (MPs)," says Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Parliament security breach row.

He added, “They are giving statements and holding press conferences across the country, but hesitating in doing the same in the House. Why are they afraid of us?”

"This government doesn't want an opposition in the House. It's like batting in a cricket match without any fielders. They are bringing very far-reaching laws which will have grave impact on to the daily life of this country, but they don't want any discussion, debate or dissent about it," says Congress MP Karti P Chidambaram.