NEW DELHI: Presidential assent to important Bills amending the existing Indian Criminal Laws. Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, introduced to replace IPC, CrPC and Indian Evidence Act, became law after the President signed the bills passed by Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The Houses passed the new bills introduced in the winter session.

Under the new laws, gang assaults will be criminalised. The section criminalizing activities against the state was omitted. However, Section 150 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill has retained sedition as a crime.

The Centre had claimed that the colonial-era criminal laws were amended to Indianize them. All three bills were passed in both houses at a time when the opposition INDIA allies were out of Parliament due to suspension.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah introduced the first bills in Parliament on August 11. Later it was left to the Standing Committee. After the committee submitted its report on November 10, the bills were withdrawn on December 11