Standing panel adopts reports on criminal laws

Subject :Polity

Section: Legislation in news

Context: Standing panel adopts reports on criminal laws

More about the news:

The parliamentary standing committee on Home Affairs has adopted its draft reports regarding three Bills aimed at replacing the Indian Penal Code, CrPC, and the Evidence Act, despite opposition members submitting multiple dissent notes.
The report suggests various changes in the Bills.
Some members, including former Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, requested more time to submit their dissent notes, which they have until Wednesday to do.
It is expected that Chidambaram, along with other opposition members, will present detailed dissent notes.
The usage of Hindi in the Bills has raised concerns among some opposition members, but the committee has maintained the Hindi names of the bills.
Additionally, there are debates over the definition of community service, as it is included as an alternative form of punishment for certain offenses, and some members are against bringing terror, corruption, and organized crime under the new penal law.

Some facts about the revamp of Criminal law:

The Centre has introduced three new Bills that propose a complete overhaul of the country’s criminal justice system.
The three Bills are set to replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860; the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973 and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872.
- IPC is set to be replaced by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
- The CrPC will be replaced by the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
- The Indian Evidence Act will be replaced by the Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, 2023

What were the old Criminal law in India:

Indian Penal Code, 1860: Defines criminal offenses and their punishments.
Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973: Regulates the procedural aspects of criminal cases.
Indian Evidence Act, 1872: Governs the rules for the admissibility of evidence in court.

Parliament Standing Committee

Is appointed or elected by the House or nominated by the Speaker / Chairman
Works under the direction of the Speaker / Chairman
Presents its report to the House or to the Speaker / Chairman
Has a secretariat provided by the Lok Sabha / Rajya Sabha
The introduction of 17 department-related standing committees (DRSCs) on March 31, 1993 was a significant innovation that increased parliamentary scrutiny and gave MPs a larger role in examining legislation and important decisions of the day.
There are 24 DRSCs — 16 from Lok Sabha and 8 from Rajya Sabha. Each committee has 21 MPs from Lok Sabha and 10 from Rajya Sabha.
The role: Given the volume of legislative business and the time constraints it is not possible for MPs to discuss and scrutinise all bills in the House.
Parliamentary committees, either formed for a specific bill (select committee) or permanent (standing committees that are reconstituted annually) allow for a scrutiny with the possibility of tapping subject experts from outside and other stakeholders in an environment where MPs are not bound by party positions or whips.