Jahanvi Agarwal
The Bar Council of India (BCI) has urged all Bar Associations and State Bar Councils to avoid protests and agitations against the three new criminal laws – Bharatiya Nyay Sanhiya, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, which are scheduled to take effect on July 1. These laws will replace the Indian Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure, and the Indian Evidence Act.
The BCI mentioned receiving concerns from various Bar Associations and State Bar Councils regarding several provisions of the new laws. Some Bar Associations have even indicated plans to protest against these changes.
Prominent legal figures like Senior Advocates Kapil Sibal, Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Mukul Rohatgi, Vivek Tankha, P. Wilson, Dushyant Dave, Indira Jaising, and others have voiced their strong opposition to the new laws.
The BCI assured the legal community that it will address these issues seriously and inform the lawyers concerns to the Union Home Ministry and the Union Law Ministry. The BCI plans to seek the intervention of Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav, who is also an advocate, to mediate the matter.
The BCI requested all Bar Associations and Senior Advocates to specify which new provisions are considered unconstitutional or harmful. “Upon receiving specific suggestions from Bar Associations, the BCI will constitute a committee comprising noted Senior Advocates, former Judges, social activists, and journalists to propose necessary amendments to the new laws,” stated BCI Secretary Srimanto Sen.