Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Friday that the new bill on the Indian Penal Code (IPC) will completely repeal the offence of sedition.
Shah made the remarks while introducing three bills in the Lok Sabha to replace the IPC, the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and the Indian Evidence Act.
“Everyone has the right to speak. We are completely repealing sedition,” the Home Minister said.
The term sedition has been removed from the new bill, and the provision has been retained under Section 150 with some changes.
“Whoever, purposely or knowingly, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or by electronic communication or by use of financial mean, or otherwise, excites or attempts to excite, secession or armed rebellion or subversive activities, or encourages feelings of separatist activities or endangers sovereignty or unity and integrity of India; or indulges in or commits any such act shall be punished with imprisonment for life or with imprisonment which may extend to seven years and shall also be liable to fine,” the new provision states.
Moving the bill, Shah further said that “from 1860 to 2023, the country’s criminal justice system functioned as per the laws made by the British. With these three laws, there will be a major change in the criminal justice system in the country”.
“Under this Bill, we have set the goal that the conviction ratio has to be taken above 90%. That is why, we have brought an important provision that the Sections which provide for 7 years or a greater jail term, under all those cases, the forensic team’s visit to the crime scene will be made compulsory,” he added.
The bills also include a new penal code against mob lynching, a death provision for the rape of minors, and a time-bound approval to prosecute civil servants.
The bills that were tabled today would replace the IPC, Code of Criminal Procedure and the Indian Evidence Act. These include the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, and the Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, 2023.
