NEW DELHI: The Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Jagdeep Dhankar, took the step of referring three proposed bills aimed at replacing antiquated British-era criminal laws to the Standing Committee on Home Affairs for comprehensive evaluation. The Rajya Sabha has set a timeframe of three months for the Standing Committee to present its findings.

In a formal notification issued by the Rajya Sabha, it was revealed, "On the 18th of August, 2023, the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, in collaboration with the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, made the decision to direct the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023; the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023; and the Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, 2023, in their introduced state within the Lok Sabha and currently under consideration, to the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs. This is for a thorough review and subsequent report generation, a task expected to conclude within a period of three months."

These bills, namely the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, and the Bharatiya Sakshya Bill 2023, were initially introduced in the Lower House of Parliament on the 11th of August. The core intention behind these bills is the replacement of the existing Indian Penal Code (IPC) 1860, Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) 1973, and the Indian Evidence Act 1872, respectively.

During the presentation of these bills, Home Minister Amit Shah underlined that the underlying ethos of these novel laws is centered around safeguarding the constitutional rights bestowed upon citizens. In Shah's words, "The British-era laws were crafted to consolidate and perpetuate their dominion, with punitive measures as their chief focus rather than dispensing justice. We, as the government, are now poised to revolutionize these fundamental paradigms. The essence of these fresh legislations lies in the shielding of all the rights enshrined in the Indian Constitution for our citizens. The ultimate goal is not just punitive action, but the delivery of justice. In this process, punitive measures will only be employed when necessary to establish a preventive stance against crime."

The move to overhaul these archaic laws is indicative of a broader effort to modernize and enhance the efficacy of the legal framework, thereby ensuring justice is not only served but also aligned with the principles of a democratic and progressive society.

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