00:00The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanita, or BNS, faces criticism.
00:04It retains the marital rape exception and uses the term
00:08outraging the modesty of a woman instead of sexual assault.
00:12Critics say it doesn't protect victims of non-consensual intimate imagery
00:17and ignores rape involving males or transgender individuals.
00:22The new sovereignty law, seen as vague and restrictive of free speech
00:27Welcome to Deep Dive with Outlook.
00:29Today, we look at India's new criminal laws.
00:32What's changed, what remains the same, and what could have been better,
00:37according to experts.
00:38On July 1, 2024, India implemented the BNS.
00:43This new code replaces the Indian Penal Code in place since British rule.
00:48The process began on August 11, 2023,
00:52when Home Affairs Minister Amit Shah introduced the bill.
00:55After several discussions, Parliament passed the bill in December 2023.
01:00The President approved it on December 25, 2023.
01:05The BNS introduces 20 new offences and removes 19 outdated ones.
01:11Sentences for 33 crimes have been increased,
01:15fines for 83 offences have been raised,
01:18and mandatory minimum punishments have been set for 23 crimes.
01:23Community service is now a penalty for 6 offences.
01:27The BNS addresses body crimes like organized crime and terrorism.
01:33It also changes the age threshold for gang-rape victims to 18 years.
01:38Property crimes now include cybercrime and financial fraud.
01:42The sedation law has been replaced with a new offence
01:46focused on acts endangering India's sovereignty.
01:49Mob lynching is now a separate offence under the BNS.
01:53Several cases have been already registered under the BNS.
01:57These include charges of obstruction,
02:00rash driving, and harassment of women.
02:03In Telangana, two people were charged with rash driving.
02:07In Jammu and Kashmir, police registered several FIRs in Srinagar,
02:12Anantna, and Baramulla.
02:14The BNS aims to modernize India's criminal justice system,
02:18addressing colonial legacies while striving for justice.
02:22Only time will tell how effective these changes will be.
Comments