India is poised to undertake a landmark revision by amending three laws from the colonial era: the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and the Indian Evidence Act. The Central Government has issued a notification stating that three recently enacted criminal laws will come into force on July 1st, 2024.
The Supreme Court Today (May 17th) sought the Centre’s stand on a petition challenging the marital rape exception under the new criminal laws. A bench headed by CJI D Y Chandrachud issued notice on the petition by the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) and said it would be listed for hearing in July along with other petitions seeking to criminalise marital rape.
Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud Today (April 20th) emphasized the necessity of equipping courts with sufficient material resources to achieve the objective of expeditious trials under the updated criminal codes. He expressed his view that the new legislations represented a pivotal moment in India’s narrative, symbolizing its evolution into a modern era of criminal justice management.
The Bar Council of India (BCI) announced a pivotal initiative on Wednesday (21 Feb) to help legal practitioners adapt to new criminal codes. This includes a time-bound plan to implement new laws, replacing outdated ones from the 19th century. The BCI aims to support practitioners with comprehensive training and upskilling programs for a smooth transition.
