New Delhi
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has introduced the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita in Parliament to replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which was based on the recommendations of the first Law Commission headed by Thomas Babington Macaulay.The IPC came into force in 1862 in the three Presidencies of British India, but it did not apply to the princely states which had their own courts and legal systems.
The newly-proposed Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Amendment Bill seeks to streamline and modernise the IPC. With a total of 356 sections, the bill aims to simplify the IPC, which currently has 511 sections.
By addressing complex procedures and removing outdated language, the bill aims to expedite legal proceedings and ensure more timely justice delivery. The bills propose a comprehensive overhaul of key legal codes that have long been criticised for their complexity, lengthy procedures, and bias against socio-economically marginalised communities.
The investigation related to sexual offences and POCSO will have to be concluded within 60 days from the date on which the information was recorded by the officer in charge of the police station, however the Government of India vide Criminal Law amendment Act (2018) already mandates completion of investigation and filing of charge sheet in rape cases in two months and trials to also be completed in two months. These are definitely changes which are going to help in tackling new dimensions that earlier went unnoticed or undealt with.
