Govt wants to bring ‘dictatorship’: Sibal slams bills to replace criminal laws


PTI, Aug 13, 2023, 5:23 PM IST

Terming the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Bill as ”unconstitutional”, former law minister Kapil Sibal on Sunday alleged that the government talks about ending colonial-era laws but their thinking is that they want to ”bring dictatorship” through such legislations.

The Rajya Sabha MP called on the government to take back the three bills it has brought to replace the Indian Penal Code, 1860, Criminal Procedure Act, 1898, and Indian Evidence Act, 1872, alleging that if such laws become a reality, they would ”imperil the future” of the country.

”They (NDA government) talk about ending colonial era laws, but their thinking is that they want to bring dictatorship in the country through laws. They want to make such laws under which action can be taken against Supreme Court and high court judges, magistrates, public servants, CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General), and other government officials,” Sibal said at a press conference here.

”I want to request judges to be vigilant. If such laws are passed then the future of the country would be imperiled,” he claimed.

Referring to the BNS Bill, Sibal said it is ”dangerous” and if passed then only the government’s writ will run on all institutions.

”I request you (government) to take back these (bills). We will tour the country and tell the people what kind of democracy you want – one that throttles the people through laws and gags them,” he alleged.

The former Congress leader said the bill is ”completely contrary to the independence of the judiciary”. ”This is completely unconstitutional, it strikes at the root of the independence of the judiciary. Their thinking is clear that they don’t want democracy in this country,” he said, slamming the government.

Sibal, who was a Union minister during UPA I and II, quit the Congress in May last year and was elected to the Rajya Sabha as an Independent member with the Samajwadi Party’s support.

He has floated a non-electoral platform ‘Insaaf’ aimed at fighting injustice.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday introduced in the Lok Sabha the BNS Bill, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) Bill, and Bharatiya Sakshya (BS) Bill that will replace the Indian Penal Code, 1860, Criminal Procedure Code, 1898, and Indian Evidence Act, 1872, respectively.

The minister also urged Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to refer the three bills for examination by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs.

Among other things, the three bills propose to repeal the sedition law and introduce a new provision with a wider definition of the offence.

Besides defining terrorism for the first time, the changes aimed at transforming the country’s criminal justice system include provisions for maximum capital punishment for mob lynching, sexual assault of minors, maximum imprisonment of 20 years for all types of gang rape and community service as one of the punishments for first-time petty offences.

Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.

Top News

BJP calls Congress govt ‘laughing stock’ as ‘samosa politics’ heats up in Himachal

Chikkaballapur: Yoga teacher feigns death by holding her breath, escapes murder bid

World Bunts Summit to be held in Mumbai on December 7

SC dismisses PIL seeking CBI probe into Tirupati laddus row

Salman Khan gets another threat; message sent to Mumbai traffic police helpline

SC overrules 1967 verdict holding AMU can’t be minority institution

BJP MP Tejasvi Surya, editors of Kannada news portals booked for allegedly spreading fake news

Related Articles More

INDIA bloc looted, destroyed Jharkhand: Dharmendra Pradhan

Gujarat family holds burial event for ‘lucky’ car; 1,500 people attend

BJP calls Congress govt ‘laughing stock’ as ‘samosa politics’ heats up in Himachal

SC notice to Centre on plea to include ayurveda, yoga in Ayushman Bharat

BJP wants to snatch ”Jal, Jungle, Jameen” from tribals, alleges Rahul at Jharkhand poll rally

MUST WATCH

Gho Pooja in Deepavali Festival

Melukote Deepavali

Ganapathi Co-operative Society Ltd

Udayavani Chinnara Banna 2024

Annapoorna Aahar | Food Places In Mysore


Latest Additions

INDIA bloc looted, destroyed Jharkhand: Dharmendra Pradhan

Gujarat family holds burial event for ‘lucky’ car; 1,500 people attend

New kind of ”Jihad” in Karnataka through Waqf Board, alleges Union Minister Pralhad Joshi

BJP calls Congress govt ‘laughing stock’ as ‘samosa politics’ heats up in Himachal

Chikkaballapur: Yoga teacher feigns death by holding her breath, escapes murder bid

Thanks for visiting Udayavani

You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.