Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill Allows Using Draconian Police Powers For Political Ends: Kapil Sibal

Sparsh Upadhyay

12 Aug 2023 9:40 PM IST

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Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill Allows Using Draconian Police Powers For Political Ends: Kapil Sibal

Expressing his concerns about the new bills introduced by the Union Government which propose repeal and replacement of the IPC, CrPC and the Indian Evidence Act , Senior Advocate and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal said that the bills allows for "using draconian police powers for political ends".Taking to his ‘X’ account, formerly known as Twitter, former law minister Sibal said that ...

Expressing his concerns about the new bills introduced by the Union Government which propose repeal and replacement of the IPC, CrPC and the Indian Evidence Act , Senior Advocate and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal said that the bills allows for "using draconian police powers for political ends".

Taking to his ‘X’ account, formerly known as Twitter, former law minister Sibal said that Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (which seeks to replace the colonial-era Indian Penal Code), "allows for using draconian police powers for political ends."

"BNS: Allows for police custody from 15 up to 60 or 90 days. New offences for prosecuting persons who threaten the security of State (redefined). Agenda: To silence opponents", he posted in X.

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita(2023)(BNS)

Allows for using draconian police powers for political ends

BNS :
Allows for police custody from 15 upto 60 or 90 days

New offences for prosecuting persons who threaten the security of state( redefined)

Agenda :
To silence opponents
— Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) August 12, 2023

The Bills — Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, to replace the IPC; Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023, for CrPC; and Bharatiya Sakshya Bill 2023, for the Indian Evidence Act — were introduced in the Lok Saha yesterday for consideration, and they have now been referred to a standing committee.

While introducing the bill yesterday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah indicated a major shift in the government's stance on the contentious issue of Sedition Law and stated that the proposed IPC replacement bill, known as the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (the Bill), would completely repeal the offence of sedition(Section 124A IPC).

The government has also said that the Bills have been framed after extensive consultation with various stakeholders including Supreme Court and High Court Judges, Law Universities, Chief Ministers, Governors, etc. The Bills also take inspiration from various Committee recommendations.

Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita proposes to repeal 22 provisions of IPC, proposes changes to 175 existing provisions and introduces 8 new Sections. It contains a total of 356 provisions.

Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita repeals 9 provisions of the CrPC, proposes changes to 160 provisions thereof and introduces 9 new provisions. The Bill contains a total of 533 Sections.

Bharatiya Sakshya Bill repeals 5 existing provisions of the Evidence Act, proposes changes to 23 provisions and introduces one new provision. It contains 170 Sections in total.

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Click here to read the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023(which seeks to replace IPC)

Click here to read the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (which seeks to replace the CrPC)

Click here to read the Bharatiya Sakshya Bill (which seeks to replace Evidence Act)