Former law minister Kapil Sibal took to Twitter to voice his apprehensions about the new bills introduced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the Lok Sabha on Friday. These bills aim to replace the longstanding British-era laws such as the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), and Indian Evidence Act.
In his tweet on the microblogging platform Twitter (formerly known as “X”), Sibal particularly highlighted the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill, which is intended to supplant the colonial-era Indian Penal Code. He raised concerns about the potential utilization of “draconian police powers for political ends” under this bill.
Kapil Sibal, a former law minister himself, went on to assert that the government’s motive behind introducing such legislative changes is to effectively “silence opponents.” The comprehensive overhaul of criminal laws proposed by the Centre includes the replacement of the IPC, CrPC, and Indian Evidence Act. The bills aim to repeal the sedition law and introduce new provisions with broader definitions of offenses.
The three bills introduced by Amit Shah are:
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Bill, 2023: This bill aims to replace the IPC and has been flagged by Sibal for its potential use of draconian police powers for political purposes.
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) Bill, 2023: This bill seeks to replace the CrPC.
- Bharatiya Sakshya (BS) Bill, 2023: This bill is intended to replace the Indian Evidence Act.
Sibal’s tweet pointed out that the BNS Bill, in particular, allows for extended police custody periods of 15 to 60 or 90 days. The bill introduces new offenses related to threatening the security of the state, which have been redefined. He accused the government of having an agenda to use these changes to silence opponents and critics.
The BNS Bill proposes several changes to existing provisions, including defamation and attempts to commit suicide. It also widens the scope of offenses against women related to sexual intercourse involving deceitful means.
In response to these legislative changes, Sanjay Raut, a leader from the Shiv Sena (UBT) party, criticized the Centre’s decision to repeal the sedition law. He claimed that the government is currently utilizing laws that are even more intimidating than those brought by the British colonial rulers against their political opponents.
The introduction of these bills and the ensuing debate underscore the significant impact and implications of changes in criminal laws on the political and social landscape of the country.