It was the British who gave legal form to the Indian legal code. It was one of their best contributions. However, while drafting these laws, their first priority was to create a legal system for the smooth administration of the representative of the British government. They drafted the Indian Evidence Act etc. flawlessly. However, with the passage of time, the methods of collecting evidence will also change. Digital evidence is the specialty of the present. Britishers framed the Indian Penal Code and Code of Criminal Procedure at a time when no one had even thought of mobile phones etc. Hence, Indian Penal Codes need to change with time. The number of convictions is very few even in the cases that come to the courts. While introducing three bills in the Lok Sabha on the last day of the annual session, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that changing this is the primary objective of deconstructing the existing legal code.

The Indian Penal Code, 1860 will be replaced by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill, 2023; the Criminal Procedure Code, 1898 will be replaced by the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita Bill, 2023 and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 will be replaced by the Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, 2023. Sanskrit names will replace the names in English as the epics, Upanishads, and Puranas that formed the foundation of Indian culture were originally written in Sanskrit. It should be seen as an attempt to uphold the glory of Indian values.

Under the new law, the crime of sedition will cease to exist. Instead, the crime of subversive activities will be introduced. The crime of sedition was introduced by the British to imprison and deport brave freedom fighters who were agitating against the government. There is no need for it anymore. Actions against the government will no longer be sedition. Instead, subversive activities and acts of terrorism against the unity and integrity of the country will be considered treasonous offences. No one can say that it is not necessary in the changed times. Another notable provision of the bill is the imposition of the death penalty in cases of gang rape of girls below 18 years of age and mob lynching.

The bills introduced in the Lok Sabha contain many welcome provisions. Mandatory social service for petty cases is also a new change. All three bills have been left for consideration by the Parliamentary Committee of the Ministry of Home Affairs. It can be expected that the committee will thoroughly examine the rules that may be misused.