New Delhi: Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita Bill 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita Bill 2023 and Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Bill 2023, the three bills to replace the Indian Penal Code of 1860, Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) of 1973 and Indian Evidence Act, of 1872.
The bills were passed with a voice vote amid the majority of the opposition MPs missing from the house owing to the suspension of 143 of them in the last few days. Home Minister Amit Shah while replying to the debate on the three criminal law bills in Lok Sabha said they will help deliver speedier justice to the people and ensure there is no "tarikh pe tarikh".
Shah said the existing criminal laws - the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Indian Evidence Act and the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) - were reflective of the colonial mindset with the intention to punish and not impart justice. Shah said the timeline and financial challenges have been a big barrier to securing justice in the country.
Among other key bills cleared by the Parliament on Wednesday was the Central Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Bill, 2023. It was approved with a voice vote in Rajya Sabha and returned to Lok Sabha, which had passed the bill on Tuesday. In the post-lunch session, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman moved it in the Upper House.
The bill seeks to raise the cap on age for president and members of the GST Appellate Tribunals (GSTAT) to 70 years and 67 years, respectively. Currently, the age limit for the president is 67 years and for members is 65 years. The bill also seeks to align the provisions of the Central GST Act in line with the Tribunal Reforms Act, 2021.
Lok Sabha also passed the Telecommunications Bill, 2023 today. The bill was introduced by Minister of Communications Ashwini Vaishnaw in the lower house of the Parliament on December 18. It seeks to supersede the existing regulatory framework for the telecommunication sector, based on the Indian Telegraph Act, of 1885, the Wireless Telegraphy Act (1933), and the Telegraph Wires (Unlawful Possession) Act (1950).
Here are the updates from Parliament today:
- 6.40 pm
Both houses adjourned for the day. - 6.00 pm
Lok Sabha passes the Telecommunications Bill, 2023. The bill was introduced by Minister of Communications Ashwini Vaishnaw in the lower house of the Parliament on December 18. It seeks to supersede the existing regulatory framework for the telecommunication sector, based on the Indian Telegraph Act, of 1885, the Wireless Telegraphy Act (1933), and the Telegraph Wires (Unlawful Possession) Act (1950). - 5.50 pm
The Central Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Bill, 2023 passed by Rajya Sabha. - 5.15 pm
Lok Sabha takes up the Telecommunications Bill, 2023 for consideration and passing. - 5.05 pm
Lok Sabha passes the Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, 2023 bill, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita, 2023 and Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Bill (BSB) 2023. - 4.47 pm
Amit Shah on three “Doctors have been excluded from accidental death. Within filing a complaint, FIR has to be registered within three days. Initial investigation must be done within 24 hours and filed in court. Chargesheet has to be filed within 180 days.” He also added that undertrials who are first-time offenders can be bailed out after 1/3rd of the jail sentence and half the time of the sentence. - 4.25 pm
"...For poor, the biggest challenge to get justice is the financial challenge...For years 'Tareekh pe tareekh' keep going. Police hold the judicial system responsible. The government holds the police and judiciary responsible. The police and judiciary hold the government responsible for the delay. Now, we have made many things clear in the new laws..." - 4.08 pm
"Act of terrorism is the worst human rights violation, anyone involved in terror must be given harsh punishment". - 4.07 pm
If anyone works against the country, he or she must not be spared and must be given the strictest punishment: Amit Shah - 4.00 pm
Criminal law bills will ensure victim-centric justice: Home Minister - 3.56 pm
Discussion of Central Goods and Services Tax Bill 2023 underway in Rajya Sabha. The Central Goods and Services Tax Bill 2023 is in consideration for passing in Rajya Sabha. - 3.55 pm
Amit Shah: "In CrPC there were 484 sections, now there will be 531 sections in it. Changes have been made in 177 sections and 9 new sections have been added. 39 new sub-sections have been added. 44 new provisions have been added..." - 3.50 pm
I have not only read every line of proposed criminal laws but have gone through every comma, full stop; held 158 meetings: Amit Shah - 3.48 pm
"We said that in Ayodhya we will make Ram Mandir as soon as possible and on January 22 Lord Ram's idol will be installed there. This is PM Modi's government which delivers what they say. We said that we would give 33% reservation to women in the Parliament and assemblies. Congress came to power many times and kept giving dates but we delivered it and with a majority of votes to empower women..." - 3.46 pm
Those who harm the country will not be spared...Three proposed criminal laws will free people from the colonial mindset and its symbols...Bills will bring comprehensive changes in the criminal justice system in the country: Home Minister Amit Shah - 3.38 pm
Home Minister Amit Shah is giving reply to the debate on the Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, 2023, The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita, 2023 and The Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Bill, 2023. - 2.27 pm
BJD MP Amar Patnaik points out bottlenecks in the GST system and requests the government for rectification. - 2.13 pm
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman moves a Bill to amend the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 in Rajya Sabha. - 2.05 pm
The Upper House has cancelled questions of MPs, who were suspended. Questions of MPs, who weren’t part of the disorder, their questions are read,” says Dhankhar. - 1 pm
Rajya Sabha is adjourned till 2 pm. - 12.43 pm
BJP MP Seema Dwivedi asks if the government is considering measures to ensure the return of money to those who invested in financial institutions. - 12.38 pm
BJD MP Sasmit Patra 66 per cent over 10 per cent increase in quick time. He requests the government for speed regulation to curb deaths in road rage. - 12.32 pm
Minister for Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari says government takes serious note of landslides in Uttarakhand. He says the government is prioritising plugging loopholes in the crisis management system. - 12 pm
Rajya Sabha resumes. - 11.48 am
Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar adjourned the house till 12 noon. - 11.32 am
Rajya Sabha is again stalled till 11.45 am. - 11.16 am
Rajya Sabha is again adjourned till 11.30 am. - 11 am
Rajya Sabha is adjourned till 11.15 am soon after resumption. - 10.41 am
In her address to party MPs and leaders at the Central Hall of the Sanvidhan Sadan on Wednesday, Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi questioned the rationale behind the suspension of MPs in the Parliament. - 9.52 am
On Union Minister Pralhad Joshi condemning Rahul Gandhi for filming the mimicry act by TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee on Tuesday, Congress MP K Suresh says, "How can he condemn Rahul Gandhi for only taking photos? A lot of people were taking photos there." - 9.29 am
On suspension of 141 MPs, K Suresh, Chief Whip of Congress Parliamentary Party in Lok Sabha says, "This government is imposing black laws against the opposition members. We are ready to face the action because our demand is genuine that the Home Minister makes a statement in Lok Sabha on the security breach incident." - 9.27 am
Winter Session of Parliament | Various reports of the Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committees on Industries; Defence; External Affairs; as well as Labour Textiles and Skill Development are to be laid on the table of Rajya Sabha today. - 9.17 am
The Lok Sabha Secretariat on Tuesday issued a circular which stated that the suspended MPs were barred from entering the Parliament chamber, lobby and galleries. They stand suspended from sittings of Parliamentary Committees of which they may be a member and no notice tabled by them is acceptable during the period of their suspension,” the order stated. They would also not be entitled to the daily allowance as long as their suspension continues.
