New Criminal Laws to Come into Force from July 1: Union Law and Justice Minister

The Union Law and Justice Minister, Arjun Ram Meghwal, announced on Sunday that three new criminal laws will come into force from July 1. These laws, namely Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Act, will replace the Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, and Evidence Act. The necessary training for the implementation of these laws is already underway, with the Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice, organizing conferences to generate awareness among stakeholders, legal fraternity, law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, district administration officials, academia, students of law, and citizens.

The Minister highlighted that these new laws contain many innovative ideas and will bring about a smooth transition once implemented. Cases that have already been registered under the old laws will continue to follow them until a verdict is reached. The three criminal laws were passed by Parliament in December last year and received presidential assent the same month. However, their notification was deferred by the Centre until February 25, when it was announced that they would come into force on July 1.

Training for the new laws is being provided by the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD), and inputs and proposals have been received from various states, Union Territories, Chief Justices of high courts, MPs, MLAs, organizations, and institutions over the past four years. The President gave assent to the laws on December 25, 2023, and the Centre notified July 1 as the date of their enforcement.

This development marks a significant change in the criminal justice system in India, and stakeholders are gearing up for the implementation of these new laws. Stay tuned for more updates on this evolving legal landscape.