Rajya Sabha MP P Wilson Writes To Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal To Stop Implementation Of New Criminal Laws

Wilson said that all stakeholders including State Governments, Judges, Police Authorities, the Bar Council of India, State Bar Councils, Bar Associations, Senior Advocates, Advocates, Eminent Jurists, and Academicians should have been essentially consulted to bring any change to the existing IPC, CrPC and the Evidence Act. He thus added that for thorough examination and consideration of all stakeholders, it was essential that the implementation of the Acts be halted.

Wilson pointed out that when the three Acts were introduced, they were sent to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on House Affairs for deliberations during which Wilson had written a letter to the Chairman seeking to undertake extensive state-wise consultation with all stakeholders and to incorporate further provisions for reforming the criminal justice delivery system by considering all the views. Wilson added that the new laws will have far-reaching implications and a significant impact on every citizen of the country as it will change the federal relationship and structure between the Union and States.

Drawing attention to Article 348 of the Constitution, Wilson wrote that there was a complete embargo on a Bill having any other language in its text other than English. Thus, he said that the title of the new bills ought to have been translated to English but it appeared to be a Hindi opposition on non-Hindi speaking states. He added that he was not against Hindi but the imposition of Hindi on non-Hindi speaking states where the people will find it difficult even to pronounce the names of the Act.

He further pointed out that the three new acts did not bring a substantial change but merely removed some references to colonial administration. He added that while examining the new acts, it should have been considered whether existing acts could be amended to bring a change in the criminal justice delivery system instead of thrusting old wine into new bottles.

He added that Advocate associations across the country and the State Bar Councils have condemned and protested against the hurried implementation of the Acts which the Bar Council of India has also acknowledged.