RS chairman refers bills to replace IPC, CrPC, Evidence Act to standing committee, seeks report within 3 months

NEW DELHI, Aug 19: Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar has referred the three proposed laws
that will replace the IPC, CrPC and the Evidence Act to the Standing Committee on Home Affairs for
examination and asked it to submit its report within three months.
The bills — the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the Bharatiya
Sakshya Bill — were introduced in the Lok Sabha by Home Minister Amit Shah on August 11.
The bills, once passed, will replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC)
and the Indian Evidence Act respectively.
While introducing the bills, Shah said these would transform India’s criminal justice system and
added the changes were done to provide speedy justice and create a legal system that caters to
contemporary needs and aspirations of the people.
In a bulletin late on Friday, the Rajya Sabha Secretariat stated, “Members are informed that on 18th
August, 2023, the Chairman, Rajya Sabha in consultation with the Speaker, Lok Sabha has referred
the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023; the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023; and the Bharatiya
Sakshya Bill, 2023, as introduced in the Lok Sabha and pending therein, to the Department-related
Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs, for examination and report within three
months.”
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs is of the Rajya Sabha and has members
from both Houses of Parliament.
BJP member Brij Lal is the chairman of the Standing Committee on Home Affairs.
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita provides for several changes in the existing provisions including that of
defamation, attempt to commit suicide and expanded the scope of offence against women
pertaining to sexual intercourse by employing “deceitful means”.
It also lists new offences such as acts of secession, armed rebellion, subversive activities, separatist
activities or endangering the sovereignty or unity in the new avatar of the sedition law.
For the first time, the word terrorism has been defined under the BNS which was not there under
the IPC. (PTI)