As new criminal laws take effect from July 1, legal community braces for change

Starting July 1, three new criminal laws will come into effect, reshaping the legal landscape in India by replacing the British-era criminal laws

Starting July 1, three new criminal laws will come into effect, reshaping the legal landscape in India by replacing the British-era criminal laws. This transition has sparked a mix of apprehension and preparedness among the legal community.

On December 25, 2023, President Droupadi Murmu gave assent to “The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023”, “The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023”, and “The Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023”.

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These new criminal laws which take effect from July 1, 2024 replace the earlier criminal laws — the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and the Indian Evidence Act.

A judge at the district court in the capital, speaking to The Hindu, highlighted the extensive training undertaken by Delhi judges. “Every single judge in Delhi underwent training at the Delhi Judicial Academy, Dwarka. We had one-on-one lectures. Everybody felt that while we will face difficulties, we will solve them.”

The judge added, “Starting July 1, FIRs will be registered under the new law, requiring judges to adapt their approach for each case accordingly. While the core principles of the law remain the same, there are some minor changes in their implementation”.

“The soul of the law remains the same, with a few cosmetic changes,” the judge said.