Three New Criminal Laws to come into force from July 1, 2024

Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023

The Union Government has officially announced that three new criminal laws - the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam - will be enforced starting from July 1, 2024. This notification was issued today by the Ministry of Home Affairs, setting the date for the commencement of these laws.

However, the implementation of Sub Section (2) of Section 106 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which pertains to 'causing death of a person by rash and negligent driving of a vehicle', has been temporarily suspended by the Centre. This decision comes in light of widespread protests by truckers against this specific provision.

The Ministry of Home Affairs, exercising its authority under sub-section (2) of section 1 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (45 of 2023), has appointed July 1, 2024, as the effective date for the provisions of the said Sanhita, with the exception of sub-section (2) of section 106, as stated in the notification.

These new laws, which replace and supersede the Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, and the Indian Evidence Act, were passed by the Parliament on December 21, 2023. They received presidential assent on December 25, 2023. However, their enforcement was subject to the date specified by the Union Government.