Delhi reports its first case under the new criminal laws

Delhi’s first FIR under the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, was filed on July 1 at Kamla Market Police Station. The case involves a street vendor, who has been charged under Section 285 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for causing obstruction on the foot over bridge at New Delhi Railway Station while making sales.

Changes in Indian Criminal Laws

Also read: टीम इंडिया को नया हेड कोच श्रीलंका सीरीज से मिलेगा

According to the FIR, the accused has been identified as Pankaj Kumar, a resident of Barh, Bihar. The police in the FIR mentioned that the accused was selling tobacco and water on a cart near the main road, which was causing hindrance and trouble to the commuters. When the police patrolling in that area asked the accused to remove his cart, he ignored the officials.

The Indian Penal Code (IPC) was replaced with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the CrPC with Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the Indian Evidence Act has been replaced with the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam.

Key Changes in Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita has 358 sections (instead of 511 sections of IPC). A total of 20 new crimes have been added to the Sanhita, and the imprisonment sentence has been increased for 33 crimes. The amount of fine has been increased in 83 crimes and mandatory minimum punishment has been introduced in 23 crimes. The penalty of community service has been introduced in six crimes and 19 sections have been repealed or removed in the Act.

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Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita has 531 sections (in place of 484 sections of CrPC). A total of 177 provisions have been changed in the Sanhita and nine new sections as well as 39 new sub-sections have been added to it. The act has added 44 new provisions and clarifications. Timelines have been added to 35 sections and audio-video provision has been added at 35 places. A total of 14 sections have been repealed and removed in the Sanhita.

Also read: India’s new criminal codes

Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam will have 170 provisions (instead of the original 167 provisions, and a total of 24 provisions have been changed. Two new provisions and six sub- provisions have been added and six provisions have been repealed or deleted in the Adhiniyam.