Minister of State for Home Affairs, Ajay Kumar Mishra on Wednesday told the Parliament that the Union Government is committed to bringing out comprehensive legislation on Criminal Laws taking into account the recommendations of the Committee and the suggestions received from all the stakeholders.
The Minister said that a committee had been constituted under the Chairpersonship of the former Vice-Chancellor, National Law University Delhi (NLU Delhi) Ranbir Singh to suggest reforms in the Criminal laws.
It may be noted that the Union Government has initiated the process for comprehensive amendments to criminal laws viz. Indian Penal Code, 1860, the code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 in consultation with all stakeholders.
The Government had earlier said that a complete overhauling of criminal laws is needed to make comprehensive changes in the criminal laws of the country to provide affordable and speedy justice to all and to create a people-centric legal structure.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has also sought suggestions from Governors, Chief Ministers of States, Lieutenant Governors (LGs) and Administrators of Union Territories, Hon’ble Chief Justice of India, Hon’ble Chief Justices of various High Courts, Bar Council of India, Bar Council of various States, various Universities/Law Institutes and all Members of Parliament regarding comprehensive amendments in criminal laws.
The Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs, in its 146th Report, had recommended that there is a need for a comprehensive review of the Criminal Justice System of the country.
Earlier the Parliamentary Standing Committee in its 111th and 128th Reports had also stressed the need to reform and rationalize the criminal law of the country by introducing comprehensive legislation in Parliament rather than bringing about piecemeal amendments in respective Acts.