
Chidambaram slams new criminal laws as ‘wasteful cut-and-paste', says they've created confusion
P Chidambaram
on Wednesday said the exercise of enactment of the three
new criminal laws
was a "waste" and has only created confusion in the
administration of justice
among judges, lawyers and the police.
Chidambaram also claimed the new Acts are an overwhelmingly 'cut and paste' exercise, with a few new provisions added.
His remarks came a day after Union Home Minister
Amit Shah
termed the enactment of the three new criminal laws as the biggest reform in independent India and said they will make the judicial process process not only affordable and accessible but also simpler, time-bound and transparent.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
2 & 3 BHK Homes Near SGNP at Ghodbundar Rd
Purva Panorama
Enquire Now
Undo
Shah stressed that the Narendra Modi government framed the new laws --
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita
(BNS), the
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita
(BNSS) and the
Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam
(BSA) -- to ensure that all rights of citizens are protected and no criminal goes unpunished.
Hitting out at the government, Chidambaram said it has claimed repeatedly that the three Criminal Law Bills, now Acts, are the biggest reforms since Independence, but "nothing can be farther from the truth".
Live Events
"I had sent a dissent note to the Parliamentary Standing Committee that examined the three Bills, and it is part of the Report tabled in Parliament," the former home minister said in X.
"In my dissent note, after comparing section by section the IPC, CrPC and Indian Evidence Act with the corresponding new Bill, I had asserted that: 90-95% of the IPC, 95% of the CrPC and 99% of the Evidence Act, have been cut and pasted in the corresponding new Bill," he said.
Chidambaram's assertion in his dissent note was not challenged in Parliament or elsewhere.
"I maintain that the new Bills, now Acts, are overwhelmingly a 'cut and paste' exercise, with a few new provisions added -- some acceptable and some not acceptable," he said.
"The whole exercise was a waste and has only created confusion in the the administration of justice among judges, lawyers and the police," Chidambaram said.
Addressing an event marking one year of the rolling out of the three criminal laws, the BNS, BNSS and the BSA, Shah had said since all processes are online, nothing will be overlooked and justice will be delivered on time.
"These laws are going to transform the criminal justice system in the country significantly. I assure all the citizens of India that it will take a maximum of three years for the full implementation of the new laws. I can also confidently say that anyone can get justice up to the Supreme Court within three years of filing an FIR," he had said.
The BNS, BNSS and the BSA replaced the colonial-era
Indian Penal Code
, the
Code of Criminal Procedure
and the Indian Evidence Act of 1872, respectively. The new laws came into effect on July 1, 2024.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Haryana schools to remain shut tomorrow due to CET exams: Check details here
The Haryana government has ordered the closure of all schools on Saturday, July 26, as part of a sweeping set of measures to ensure the smooth and fair conduct of the Common Eligibility Test (CET) 2025, scheduled for July 26 and 27 across the state. Over 13.48 lakh candidates are set to appear for the examination for Group-C recruitment under the Haryana Staff Selection Commission (HSSC), with 834 exam centres designated statewide. Prohibitory orders and security protocols enforced In preparation, the state machinery has moved into high gear. Director General of Police Shatrujeet Kapur has instructed senior officers across all districts to implement robust security protocols. Prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, will be imposed within a 500-metre radius of all examination centres. The directive is aimed at curbing potential disruptions and maintaining public order during the high-stakes examination. To minimise crowding and eliminate risks of misconduct, parking will be strictly prohibited within a 200-metre radius of the centres. Photocopy and printing shops in proximity to the venues have also been ordered shut on both examination days. Invigilators will not be permitted to carry mobile phones or electronic gadgets inside exam halls, and only authorised personnel will be allowed entry at the centres. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Indonesia: New Container Houses (Prices May Surprise You) Container House | Search ads Search Now Undo The state police will operate on wireless-only communication during the examination period and establish checkpoints from Friday evening to monitor suspicious vehicles entering from outside the districts. Senior police officers and deputy commissioners are scheduled to personally inspect centres a day prior to the exam and patrol the premises on the exam days. Traffic and transport arrangements for candidates Anticipating a surge in candidate arrivals, especially by train and bus, Haryana Police has deployed additional traffic personnel and directed district administrations to ensure seamless travel. Special bus services have been arranged for candidates, and in a notable move to support female aspirants, one accompanying family member will be allowed to travel free of cost. Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, who chaired a review meeting earlier this week, emphasised the importance of public cooperation and urged residents to refrain from unnecessary travel during the examination days to prevent traffic congestion. Addressing a gathering in Charkhi Dadri on Thursday, Saini reiterated the state's commitment to a transparent examination process and appealed to citizens to assist authorities in maintaining law and order. Massive statewide coordination effort The state government has also instructed deputy commissioners to appoint an adequate number of duty magistrates to monitor the examination process. DGP Kapur has called on all citizens, candidates, and their guardians to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity immediately by dialling the emergency helpline '112' or contacting local police stations. With one of the largest examination exercises in the state underway, Haryana's administration has signalled zero tolerance for malpractice, vowing an uncompromising approach to fairness and security during CET 2025. Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!


New Indian Express
an hour ago
- New Indian Express
Rickshaw puller arrested for raping minor in UP's Shahjahanpur
SHAHJAHANPUR: A rickshaw puller was arrested on Friday for allegedly raping a 15-year-old girl here, police said. Superintendent of Police (SP) Rajesh Dwivedi told PTI that the accused, Asif (22), had been dropping the class 9 student to school regularly for the past year. "On July 15, the accused took the girl, but instead of dropping her at school, he allegedly took her to a forest near Badi village and promised to marry her," the officer said. The accused allegedly raped the girl and then beat her besides threatening to kill her if she revealed the incident at home, he said "Out of fear, the victim initially kept silent but remained withdrawn and distressed. After persistent questioning from her mother, she eventually narrated the incident," the SP said. Following the girl's revelation, a case was registered against the accused on Thursday under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The survivor has been sent for a medical examination.

Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
7 Reasons that make Samsung GALAXY Z FLIP7 different from others
4,078 Days As PM: Modi Tops Indira Gandhi, Now Behind Jawaharlal Nehru In India's Longest PM Streaks July 25, 2025, marks a historic milestone: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has officially surpassed Indira Gandhi's record of 4,077 consecutive days in office, becoming India's second longest consecutively serving Prime Minister after Jawaharlal Nehru. Born post-Independence, Modi is the longest-serving non-Congress PM, the first PM from a non-Hindi-speaking state, and the only one to win three consecutive Lok Sabha elections with a majority. From selling tea in Vadnagar to leading the world's largest democracy for over 11 years without a break, Modi's journey is as dramatic as it is historic. #pmmodi #narendramodi #indiragandhi #jawaharlalnehru #india #longestpm #longestprimeminister #indianpm #indianprimeministers #modi #indianpolitics #indira #narendramodi #history #lokasabha #longestservingpm #bjp #india #toi #toibharat #bharat #trending #breakingnews #indianews #toi #toibharat #bharat #trending #breakingnews #indianews 13.9K views | 2 hours ago