Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 1 : Maharashtra Minister of Relief and Rehabilitation, Anil Bhaidas Patil supported the introduction of three new criminal laws, saying that constant changes in the legal framework and implementation of new laws with the changing times are the need of the hour.
Speaking to ANI on Monday, the Maharashtra Minister said, "There should be constant changes in the legal framework. It is important to implement new laws in light of changing times. We welcome the three new criminal laws."
The new criminal laws, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Sanhita, came into effect on July 1 at midnight.
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), passed in Parliament last December, will replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860, the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), 1973, and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, respectively.
Several new provisions have been incorporated into the three new criminal laws to suit contemporary times and the technologies in vogue. The forthcoming laws introduce several progressive provisions aimed at enhancing efficiency and fairness in the legal process.
Patil also responded to the Lonavala incident, wherein three people, including two minors, lost their lives and two others went missing after drowning in a waterfall near Bhushi dam in Lonavala on Sunday, June 30.
Condemning the incident, Patil said, "People should not enter prohibited areas. However, a family of 17 went to the spot in Lonavala and became victims of an unfortunate incident."
"I have spoken to the concerned authorities and an investigation is underway on the matter," he said.
The incident occurred at the backside of Bhushi Dam under a waterfall in Pune's Lonavala area on Sunday, at around 12.30 pm.
Three bodies have been recovered and the deceased have been identified as Shahista Ansari (36), Amima Ansari (13), and Umera Ansari (8), while the missing ones are identified as Adnan Ansari (4) and Maria Sayyad (9), all hailing from the Sayyad Nagar area of Pune City.
In a joint effort by Lonavala Police and emergency services, a rescue operation is underway to find the missing children.
The family was on a day out when the tragedy struck, as their picnic turned into a nightmare with the drowning of five members.
The three new laws received Parliament's nod on December 21, 2023. President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent on December 25, 2023, and was published in the official gazette on the same day.
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita will have 358 sections (instead of 511 sections in the IPC). A total of 20 new crimes have been added to the bill, and the imprisonment sentence has been increased for 33 of them. The amount of the 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 for six crimes and 19 sections have been repealed or removed from the bill.
Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita will have 531 sections (in place of 484 sections of CrPC). A total of 177 provisions have been changed in the bill, and nine new sections as well as 39 new sub-sections have been added to it. The draft 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.
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.