The Union Government announced that the new criminal legislation, including the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, will be implemented starting July 1, 2024. Today, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued notifications setting this start date. However, the implementation of a particular section within the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, specifically Sub Section (2) of Section 106 concerning ‘causing death by rash and negligent driving’, has been suspended due to extensive protests by truck drivers.
The notification from the Ministry stated, “By virtue of the authority granted by sub-section (2) of section 1 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (45 of 2023), the Central Government designates the 1st day of July, 2024 as the day the said Sanhita’s provisions will become effective, with the exception of Sub Section (2) of Section 106.”
These new laws are set to supersede the Indian Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure, and the Indian Evidence Act, following their passage in Parliament on December 21, 2023, and receiving presidential approval on December 25, 2023. The statutes specified their enactment would commence on a date determined by the Union Government.
The Official Notification can be accessed at: https://a2z-bucket.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Gazette-Notific.pdf