Parliamentary Panel Meets 6 November To Finalise New Criminal Laws Amid DMK Protests Over Hindi Names

A parliamentary committee responsible for reviewing three bills intended to replace existing criminal laws is scheduled to convene on Monday (6 November) to finalise draft reports.

On 27 October, the Home Affairs standing committee was unable to adopt the three draft reports due to demands from some opposition members for additional time to assess the bills.

In light of creating comprehensive legislation that serves marginalised communities, rushing the final report in the coming days or in November would undermine the legislative scrutiny process, as stated by an opposition MP in communication with opposition sources.

However, sources from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) indicated that the committee has already engaged in an extensive consultation process and will meet its three-month deadline.

The committee is expected to convene on 6 November, as indicated in a notice sent to its members for the adoption of the three draft reports.

Despite protests from some opposition members, sources suggest that the committee may proceed to adopt the draft reports.

Home Minister Amit Shah had introduced three bills in the Lok Sabha during the Monsoon session, aiming to replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC); the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973; and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872; with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, respectively, in an effort to overhaul colonial-era criminal laws.

The bills were subsequently sent to the committee for scrutiny, with a three-month deadline for the submission of its report.

The committee is likely to recommend numerous amendments to the three bills while retaining their Hindi names, a decision that has faced opposition from some MPs, including those from the DMK, who have advocated for English names for the proposed laws.