BCI is trying to hold the protests over 3 new Criminal Laws & seeks dialogue on it

BCI is trying to hold the protests over 3 new Criminal Laws & seeks dialogue on it

India’s legal system is in for a shakeup with the implementation of three new criminal laws which came into force by the 1st July 2024 which significantly changes the administration of criminal justice delivery system of country: The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and The Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam. But before the gavels start banging in protest, the Bar Council of India (BCI) is urging for calm and conversation.

Bar associations across the country were ready to throw on their black robes and hit the streets. They see these new laws as potentially problematic, even draconian. Some fear they could infringe on fundamental rights or be harsher than the colonial-era laws they’re meant to replace.

The BCI, the governing body for lawyers in India, is acting as a mediator. They’ve acknowledged the concerns and requested a pause on the protests. Instead, they’re proposing a collaborative approach.

Here’s the plan: Bar associations and senior lawyers are invited to identify specific sections of the new laws they find concerning. This will provide the BCI with a clear picture of the legal community’s anxieties.

With this intel in hand, the BCI will assemble a dream team – senior advocates, retired judges, even impartial social activists and journalists. This task force will then propose amendments to the new laws, ensuring they function smoothly and fairly.

“There is no cause for immediate concern,” assures BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra. He sees this as an opportunity for positive change, achieved through constructive dialogue rather than disruptions.

This is a fascinating development in Indian law. It shows the power of the legal fraternity to influence legislation and their willingness to work within the system to achieve a just outcome. Whether the new laws will be amended or remain as is – only time, and the combined efforts of lawyers, activists, and lawmakers, will tell.