By voice vote, the Lok Sabha passed three bills to replace colonial-era criminal laws on Wednesday. The proceedings were held in the absence of 97 Opposition MPs, who have been suspended since last week for misconduct and unruly behaviour.
Amit Shah introduced the three bills last week. The names of the redrafted bills are — the Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Bill.
The Indian Evidence Act of 1872, the Code of Criminal Procedure Act of 1898, and the Indian Penal Code of 1860 will all be replaced by these bills.
Shah stated that the bills were framed after consultations. He said he had gone through every comma and full stop before they were introduced in the Lok Sabha.
He stated that the three bills would establish a justice system based on Indian thinking. He said that the current laws reflect the colonial mindset of punishing for a crime but not doing justice.
“The three proposed criminal laws will free people from colonial mindset and its symbols,” Shah said.