The West Bengal Assembly, led by the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), passed a resolution under Rule 169 calling for a review of the new criminal laws — Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). The TMC has labeled these laws as ‘draconian’.
During today’s discussion, Bengal Law Minister Moloy Ghatak criticised the laws, stating, “There are numerous concerns regarding these new criminal laws. Our Opposition stems from the fact that they were enacted without adequate consultation with stakeholders and the Law Commission.”
Ghatak further noted that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had advocated for such consultations in her three letters to the Centre, which were disregarded. He also alleged that the laws were passed in Parliament on December 20 while Opposition MPs were suspended.
The State Government has established a committee to review the three laws, which replaced the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and the Evidence Act, coming into effect from July 1.
The resolution, introduced by Minister of State for Finance (Independent Charge) Chandrima Bhattacharya and TMC members Nirmal Ghosh and Ashok Kumar Deb, received support from MLAs Apurba Sarka, Md Ali, and Pannalal Halder.
However, BJP members opposed the resolution. Leader of the Opposition in the Bengal assembly, Subhendu Adhikari, dismissed the resolution as ineffective, suggesting instead that the assembly should address issues such as illegal migration, love jihad, and the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
The resolution was ultimately passed by voice vote on Thursday.
