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A year after enforcement of new criminal laws began, T.N. government works on more State amendments
As the three new criminal laws replacing colonial-era laws complete one year of enforcement in Tamil Nadu, the State government, which has sent its first list of proposed State amendments, is working on more of them.
In its first list of State amendments proposed to the Government of India, it has sought changes in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). The State government sent the amendments in January this year.
A top official from the Union Home Ministry visited Chennai a few days ago and one of the items on the agenda that was discussed at a meeting was about the amendments proposed by the Tamil Nadu government.
One-man committee
Meanwhile, the State government is also awaiting a report from retired Madras High Court judge M. Sathyanarayanan, who has been leading the one-man committee, which was constituted to examine the three new criminal laws and suggest State amendments to them. Another list will be sent on receipt of report from the committee, according to a source.
In July last year, the Tamil Nadu government announced that it has constituted the one-man committee in this regard, on the directions of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin.
The State government had then stated that Mr. Stalin, in his communication to the Union Home Minister, dated June 17, 2024, had highlighted key issues in the the three criminal laws — the BNS, the BNSS, and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam.
The Chief Minister had contended that the Union government's laws had some errors in some basic sections and that they had been enacted without concurrence from State governments. As these subjects were part of the Concurrent List III, elaborate consultations should have been held with the State government, Mr. Stalin contended.
