NEW DELHI: Death penalty for raping girls up to twelve years of age, lynching and terrorism. Life imprisonment for gang rape. 10 years in jail for abuse by the promise of marriage. Life imprisonment for treason.

Home Minister Amit Shah introduced three bills in the Lok Sabha yesterday, drastically dismantling the Indian criminal laws that have existed in the country since 1860. The Bills were referred to the Standing Committee. Hindi names were also given to the laws.

The government should give permission to prosecute the police and other officials within 120 days. Otherwise, it will be considered as permission. IPC, which had 511 sections, was reduced to 356 sections and 175 sections were amended. Crimes like terrorism, separatism, armed rebellion against the government, and challenges to the country's sovereignty, which were in different departments, have been brought under one department.

Video recording of statements of abused women has been made mandatory. Fraudulent marriage and intercourse were made a separate department. Sexual intercourse with a wife above the age of eighteen years does not constitute as molestation.

The new bills are based on the recommendations of the Law Reforms Committee of former VC Prof Dr Ranbir Singh, Delhi National Law University, formed by the central government in March 2020.

Changes are as follows

1. Indian Penal Code (IPC) 1860 - Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita Bill (BNS) 2023
2. Criminal Procedure (Cr.P.C.) 1898 - Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita Bill (BNSS) 2023,
3. Evidence Act 1872- Bharatiya Sakshya Bill (BS) 2023

Murder is now Section 99

• Section 124A of Sedition was omitted. Instead, sections 145 and 150 to provide imprisonment from seven years to life sentence.
• One year imprisonment for bribing voters
• Murder is now section 99. The old Section 302 is the offence of extortion from now. Time limit for investigation, trial and judgment.

Digital documents will also be proof

• Validity of paper documents for digital documents.
• Defendants, witnesses, experts and victims can appear online.
• Forensic evidence made mandatory in offences punishable by seven years.
• Raids and seizures should be videotaped. Charge sheet will not be accepted without it.
• Copies of documents and hash value of deleted documents will be secondary evidence.

'Laws are revamped to ensure justice. Convicted cases will increase to more than 90 percent.'

- Amit Shah, Home Minister

FIR should be given to victim

• Mandatory FIR within 90 days in every case
• Charge sheet should be filed within 90 days. The court may grant an additional 90 days but not more than that.
• The trial can be conducted even if the accused is absconding.
• Victims should be heard before withdrawing cases with sentences of seven years or more.
• The death sentence can be commuted to life imprisonment, life imprisonment for seven years and seven years imprisonment for three years only.
• Magistrate court trial in trivial cases.
• Courts should not summon retired police officers for taking evidence.
• Illegal detention will be prevented. An officer at each police station to inform the relatives that the accused is in custody