The first FIR under India's new criminal code, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, was officially registered at 12:10 am in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, for a motorcycle theft. This clarifies earlier reports that incorrectly claimed the first case was against a street vendor in Delhi. Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed the confusion, asserting that the initial case indeed involved a stolen motorcycle worth ₹1.80 lakh.
In Delhi, however, the first application of the new law did occur shortly thereafter. A street vendor was charged for obstructing a road near the railway station.
This case was registered under Section 285 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which penalises any act causing danger, obstruction, or injury to any person in a public way.
The street vendor, identified as Pankaj Kumar from Patna, Bihar, had set up a makeshift stall selling water bottles and gutkha. Despite repeated requests from police to move his stall, he did not comply, leading to the filing of the FIR.
The new criminal codes—Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam—came into force today, replacing the colonial-era Indian Penal Code, Indian Evidence Act, and the Code of Criminal Procedure. These changes aim to modernise India's criminal justice system, ensuring speedy justice and addressing contemporary types of crime.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasised that the overhaul of these laws was necessary to bring them in line with Indian ethos and the spirit of the Constitution.
The new codes prioritise crimes against women and children and are designed to expedite legal proceedings. Judgments are now mandated within 45 days of trial completion, and charges must be framed within 60 days of the first hearing.
The implementation of these new laws has not been without controversy. Opposition parties, including the Congress, have criticised the government for what they perceive as a hasty rollout.
They argue that sufficient discussion and debate were not conducted before the enactment of these significant legal changes. However, Shah has countered these claims, stating that no other law in India's history has been discussed in such detail in Parliament.
The legal community and the public will be closely watching how these new laws are applied and whether they achieve the intended goals of delivering swift and fair justice.
The early cases, such as the motorcycle theft in Gwalior and the street vendor's obstruction in Delhi, will serve as initial tests for the effectiveness and practicality of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and its accompanying codes.
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