President Murmu Gives Assent To Telecom, Three Criminal Law Bills

President Droupadi Murmu on Monday (25 December) granted assent to three new criminal law bills that had been passed by Parliament last week.

In addition, the President also gave approval to the Telecommunications Bill, which aims to revamp the country's over a century old telecom law in order to make the industry more appealing to investors.

The Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 will replace the IPC, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita will replace the CrPC, and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam will replace the Indian Evidence Act.

Although the three laws have been officially published in the gazette, the date they will take effect is yet to be announced by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Hailing the passage of the Criminal law Bills, Union home minister Amit Shah had said it was the "beginning of a new era" and the legislations were aimed at making time-bound justice delivery to Indians by protecting their human rights.

The Telecom bill - which allows the government to temporarily take control of telecom services in the interest of national security - was cleared by the Lok Sabha on 20 December, and by Rajya Sabha on 21 December.