The cog to reform the criminal laws in India started turning in
2020 with the formation of a Committee for Reforms in Criminal Laws
(CRCL). The process took its final turn when recently, on August
11, 2023, the Home Minister introduced in the Lok Sabha (lower
house of Indian Parliament) 3 bills to completely overhaul the
centuries-old Indian Penal Code, 1860 Code of Criminal Procedure
1973 (originally 1898) and Indian Evidence Act 1872 and replace
them with Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha
Sanhita, 2023 and Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, 2023 respectively. The
step was hailed by many, including various academicians and
scholars. At the same time, few remained critical regarding it,
calling it unnecessary and futile to replace century-old intact
laws, thereby disturbing the vast criminal jurisprudence. The Bills
have been referred to a parliamentary standing committee for
further examination.
