Three new criminal laws, to replace colonial-era codes, to come into effect in India from July 1

These laws are Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023; Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023.

While issuing the notification, the government has put on hold the provisions of the entry relating to Section 106(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, in the First Schedule.

The new laws will replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Indian Evidence Act from the British era, and the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).

"In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 1 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (45 of 2023), the Central Government hereby appoints the 1st day of July, 2024 as the date on which the provisions of the said Sanhita, except the provision of sub-section (2) of section 106, shall come into force," the Home Ministry notification said as quoted by Indian news agnecy UNI.

It may be mentioned that the motor transport unions had protested raising objections to the Section 106(2) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which provides a 10-year jail term in a hit-and-run case.

However, the government, after a series of meetings, assured that a decision on implementing the section would only happen after discussion with the All India Motor Transport Congress.

The three amended Bills that seek to repeal and replace the Criminal Laws were passed by the Parliament during the Winter Session in December, 2023.

India will vote in the national polls in the upcoming months.

PM Narendra Modi-led government will form the third straight term if it wins the polls.