Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the
passage of three criminal justice bills that will replace as many colonial-era
acts as a watershed moment in India’s history, and said it marked the beginning
of a new era with laws centered on public service and welfare.
“Through them, we have also bid goodbye
to the outdated sections on sedition,” he said on X after Parliament gave its
nod to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the
Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam.
These bills will replace the Indian
Penal Code-1860, the Code of Criminal Procedure-1898 and the Indian Evidence
Act of 1872, respectively.
“These bills mark the end of colonial-era
laws. A new era begins with laws centered on public service and welfare,” said the
PM.
He added, “These transformative Bills
are a testament to Bharat’s commitment to reform. They bring our legal,
policing, and investigative systems into the modern era with a focus on
technology and forensic science. These bills ensure enhanced protection for the
poor, marginalised and vulnerable sections of our society.”
These bills, the PM said, come down
heavily on organised crime, terrorism and such offences which strike at the
root of the country’s peaceful journey to progress.
“In our Amrit Kaal, these legal reforms
redefine our legal framework to be more relevant and empathy driven,” he said,
highlighting speeches by Home Minister Amit Shah in Parliament which, he added,
elaborate on the key features of these bills.
PTI
