New Delhi: Amit Shah, the Union Home Minister, announced in the Lok Sabha on Friday that a new bill aimed at overhauling the Indian Penal Code (IPC) would include a complete repeal of the offence of sedition. Shah presented a trio of bills in the Lok Sabha, seeking to replace not only the IPC but also the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and the Indian Evidence Act.
During his address in the Lower House regarding the three bills, Amit Shah said, “Under this law, we are repealing laws like Sedition.”
“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,” he said.
“Under this Bill, we have set the goal that the conviction ratio has to be taken above 90 percent. 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,” Amit Shah said.
The key bills include a new penal code against mob lynching, death provision for the rape of minors, and a time-bound approval to prosecute civil servants. Offences such as separatism and waging war against the country are defined as separate offences. A provision has been brought into try absconding criminals such as Dawood Ibrahim in absentia.
The offence of sedition was covered by the Indian Penal Code (IPC) under Section 124A.
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