Three New Criminal Laws Replace Colonial-Era Codes in India

New Delhi: On Monday, India enacted three new criminal laws—Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam—replacing the colonial-era Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, and Indian Evidence Act, respectively.

These new laws aim to modernize India’s justice system by introducing provisions such as Zero FIR, online registration of police complaints, and electronic summonses. “These laws have been crafted to address contemporary social realities and crimes, ensuring mechanisms that reflect the ideals enshrined in our Constitution,” official sources told news agency PTI.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who spearheaded the legislative overhaul, emphasized the focus on justice over penal action. “These laws are made by Indians, for Indians, and by an Indian Parliament, marking the end of colonial criminal justice laws,” Shah said. He highlighted that the changes represent more than a mere renaming exercise. “The soul, body, and spirit of the new laws are Indian,” he remarked.