New Criminal statutes Enforced From Dated 01 July 2024, which effectively repeal the longstanding IPC, CrPC, and Indian Evidence Act
New Legal Framework Set to Replace IPC, CrPC & Evidence Act from July 2024
The Indian Government has announced the implementation of new criminal legislations, set to replace the existing Indian Penal Code (IPC), Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and the Indian Evidence Act. These new laws, titled Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, are scheduled to be effective from July 1, 2024.
Today, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued official notifications marking the commencement date for these laws. Concurrently, the Government has deferred the enforcement of a contentious section in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, pertaining to ‘causing death by rash and negligent driving’. This postponement comes amid extensive protests, particularly from truckers, against this specific clause.
The Ministry’s notification clarified: “Pursuant to the authority granted by sub-section (2) of section 1 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (Act No. 45 of 2023), the Central Government designates July 1, 2024, as the date for enforcing the provisions of the said Act, with the exception of the sub-section (2) of section 106.”
These new statutes, which effectively repeal the longstanding IPC, CrPC, and Indian Evidence Act, were enacted by the Parliament on December 21, 2023, and received Presidential assent on December 25, 2023. However, they were slated to come into force on a date determined by the Union Government.
