Reform of Criminal Laws

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has constituted a national level ‘Committee for the Reform of Criminal Laws’.

What is the committee for?

The criminal law in India comprises -

- the Indian Penal Code of 1860
- the Code of Criminal Procedure was rewritten in 1973
- the Indian Evidence Act dates back to 1872

The idea that the current laws governing crime, investigation and trial require meaningful reform has long been in place. There have been several attempts in recent decades to overhaul the body of criminal law. Given this, the committee's mandate now is to recommend reforms in the criminal laws in a principled, effective, and efficient manner.

The reforms should ensure the safety and security of the individual, the community and the nation. It should prioritise the constitutional values of justice, dignity and the inherent worth of the individual.

How does it work?

The committee has several leading legal academicians on board. It would be gathering opinions online, consulting with experts and collating material for their report to the government. Questionnaires have been posted online on the possible reforms.

The committee has invited experts in the field of criminal law to participate in the exercise through an online consultation mechanism. The consultation exercise would go on for 3 months (starting on 4 July 2020).

What are the concerns?

Timeframe - Comprehensive legal reform requires careful consideration and a good deal of deliberation. An apparently short timeframe and limited scope for public consultation have thus been raised as concerns. This has caused considerable disquiet among jurists, lawyers and those concerned with the state of criminal justice in the country.
Timing - The Committee has begun its work in the midst of a pandemic. This may not be the ideal time for wide consultations. Activists and lawyers functioning in the hinterland may be at a particular disadvantage in formulating their opinions.
Mandate - The panel's mandate is also vague and open to multiple interpretations. It is also not clear why the Law Commission has not been vested with this task.
Members - The committee being an all-male, Delhi-based one has led to concerns of lack of diversity.

Way ahead?

Reform is best achieved through a cautious and inclusive approach. If at all criminal law is to be reformed, there should be a genuine attempt to reach a wide consensus.

The priorities should be on ways to speed up trials, protect witnesses, address the travails of victims, improve investigative mechanisms and, most importantly, eliminate torture.

Source: TH

Join Our Telegram

Sundarbans Wetlands

Fishermen Issue with Sri Lanka

Oceanic Anoxic Event 1a and MASS EXTINCTION

25 Dec, 24
SHARE

Oceanic Anoxic Event 1a from the Paris Basin (Environment) Paper-3 PMP OAE 1a refers to a period during the Cretaceous Period (145 million years ago and ended 66 million years ago) when Earth's oceans became depleted of oxygen, causing a significant disruption in marine life. Cause: The event is believed to have been

Viksit Panchayat Karmayogi (Good governance)

26 Dec, 24
SHARE

Viksit Panchayat Karmayogi (Good governance) Governance GS PAPER-2 PMP Dr. Jitendra Singh launched the ‘Viksit Panchayat Karmayogi’ initiative on Good Governance Day, celebrated to mark the 100th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The initiative, which is part of the broader ‘Prashasan Gaon

Major programmes to control Air Pollution

23 Dec, 24
SHARE

Major programmes to control Air Pollution National Clean Air Programme? It was launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in January 2019. It is the first-ever effort in the country to frame a national framework for air quality management with a time-bound reduction target. The

Air pollution and Air quality Measures in India

21 Dec, 24
SHARE

Air pollution and Air quality Measures in India (Environment) GS Paper-3 P-M-P Air pollution may be defined as the presence of any solid, liquid or gaseous substance including noise and radioactive radiation in the atmosphere in such concentration that may be directly and/or indirectly injurious to humans or other l

Geopolitical Significance of Ports

20 Dec, 24
SHARE

Geopolitical Significance of Ports (IR) Act as geopolitical assets: Ports enhance the projection of strategic reach, which helps strengthen the country’s control over important sea and energy supply routes. E.g. Indian Navy’s staging base at Agalega Islands will enable marine patrols