Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita: Major changes in Criminal law from today

What is the big change?

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) are going to replace the colonial-era Indian Penal Code (IPC), Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and Indian Evidence Act.

Implementation

The three laws were passed in the December session of the Parliament under the leadership of Union Home Minister Amit Shah who claims that this change in laws marks the end of colonial rule-influenced laws.

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita

BNS is the replacement of the Indian Penal Code, introducing 21 new offenses. The notable one is penalizing sexual intercourse through the employment of “deceitful means”.

Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita

BNSS has replaced the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), which deals with procedural law. Under BNSS, a person can be kept in police custody for 90 days compared to CrPC’s 15-day limit.

The Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA)

The Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) replaces the Indian Evidence Act. The law allows for “electronic and digital records”, which include a wide range of electronic records, from computers to smartphones.

Enforcement

As the new laws are introduced in the country on July 1, 2024, all 17,500 police stations across the nation will hold a special event to make people aware of the new laws.