Centre includes new criminal laws in training programs, all Ministries asked to issue suitable instructions

The Central government has asked all Ministries to include the newly passed criminal laws in training programs. A missive shared by the Department of Personnel and Training also noted that the new laws would come into effect from July 1. 

“All the Ministries and Departments are requested to issue suitable instructions to the training institutions under their administrative control to include contents on these three new laws in various training programmes organised by them,” the notice urged.

The three laws — Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam — are slated to come into force from July 1. They replace the centuries-old Indian Penal Code and Indian Evidence act as well as the Code of Criminal Procedure.

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The IPC — which spans 511 section — is being replaced with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita which will have 358 sections. A total of 20 new crimes have been added to the bill and 19 sections have been repealed or removed from the bill. The imprisonment sentence has been increased for 33 of them while the amount of the fine has been increased in 83 crimes. Mandatory minimum punishment has been introduced in 23 crimes.

The Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (with 531 sections) will soon replace the 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.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam will have 170 provisions instead of the original 167. Two new provisions and six sub-provisions have been added and six provisions have been repealed or deleted from the bill.

(With inputs from agencies)