Lok Sabha Question No. 2102 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-14
Subject: Review of Criminal Laws
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: P.R. Natarajan, Nama Nageswara Rao, Jagdambika Pal, T. R. Paarivendhar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2102

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 14 TH  MARCH, 2023/ PHALGUNA 23, 1944 (SAKA)

REVIEW OF CRIMINAL LAWS

2102.      SHRI NATARAJAN P.R.: SHRI NAMA NAGESWARA RAO: SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL: DR. T.R.PAARIVENDHAR:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  on  the  process  of  review  of  the  existing many criminal laws including Indian Evidence Act, 1872;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with reasons therefor;
- (c)  whether  the  Government has taken the opinion of all stakeholders in this regard;
- (d) if so, the details thereof;
- (e) the time by which the proposed review be completed and implemented; and

(f) whether the Government has set up any committee to review the British era Law especially Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Criminal Procedure Code ( CrPC)  in  this  regard,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  the  reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI AJAY KUMAR MISHRA)

(a) to (f) : The Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs, in its 146 th  Report had recommended that there is a need for a  comprehensive  review  of  the  Criminal  Justice  System of the country. Earlier  the  Parliamentary  Standing  Committee  in  its  111 th   and  128 th Reports  had  also  stressed   upon  the  need to reform and rationalize  the

## L.S.USQ.NO.2102 FOR 14.03.2023

criminal law of the country by introducing a comprehensive legislation in Parliament rather than bringing about piece meal amendments in respective  Acts.  With  a  view  to  make  comprehensive  changes  in  the criminal laws of the country to provide affordable and speedy justice to all, create a people centric legal structure, the Government has initiated the process for comprehensive amendments to criminal laws viz. Indian Penal Code, 1860, the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 in consultation with all stakeholders.

A Committee had been constituted under the Chairpersonship of the Vice Chancellor,  National  Law  University,  Delhi  to  suggest  reforms  in  the Criminal laws.  The Ministry of Home Affairs has also sought suggestions from Governors, Chief Ministers of States, Lieutenant Governors (LGs) and Administrators of Union Territories, Hon'ble Chief Justice of India, Hon'ble Chief Justices of various High Courts, Bar Council of India, Bar Council of various  States,  various  Universities/  Law  Institutes  and  all  Members  of Parliament  regarding  comprehensive  amendments  in  criminal  laws.    The Government is committed to bring out a comprehensive legislation taking into account the recommendations of the Committee and the suggestions received  from  all  the  stakeholders.  The  legislation  of  such  laws  is  a complex  and  lengthy  exercise  given  the  spectrum  of  divergent  views  of stakeholders. The entire procedure is a long drawn out one and no timelimit can be fixed or given for this legislative process.

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