Umesh Sir has raised a very relevant issue which needs to be discussed threadbare.
Recently selected Government officers had to undergo online training courses on Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), which has replaced 'anrezo-ka-jamane-ka' Indian Penal Code (IPC) on 1st July 2024. My Ministry nominated me along with some other officers. So, I attended the training and managed to pass (with difficulty).
I don't know whether I could digest my training materials on BNS. But I am trying to write whatever I remember. FActual inaccuracy, if any, may kindly be condoned and corrected by the knowledgeable members.
(a) BNS retains most offences from IPC.
(b) BNS adds community service as a form of punishment.
(c) Sedition is no longer an offence. Instead, there is a new offence for endangering the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India.
(d) BNS adds terrorism as an offence. Very importantly (for students like me who have studied International Terrorism), terrorism is defined as an act that intends to threaten the unity, integrity, and security of the country, intimidate the general public or disturb public order.
(e) Organised crime has been added as an offence in BNS. It includes crimes such as kidnapping, extortion and cyber-crime committed on behalf of a crime syndicate. Petty organized crime is also an offence now.
(f) Murder by a group of five or more persons on grounds of certain identity markers such as caste, language or personal belief will be an offence with a penalty of seven years to life imprisonment or death.
(g) IPC criminalized acts such as rape, voyeurism, stalking and insulting the modesty of a woman. BNS retains these provisions. It increases the threshold for the victim to be classified as a major, in the case of gang rape, from 16 to 18 years of age.
(h) BNS also criminalizes sexual intercourse with a woman by deceitful means or by making false promises.
(i) BNS has simplified legal language making it helpful for common people.
(j) In BNS, provisions have been included to expedite legal proceedings, reducing delays in the judicial process. This includes setting specific timelines for various stages of trial and enhanced use of technology in courts.
I will write further about BNS if some more points come to my mind.
But we must remember one very important point. The term 'four-twenty' has become obsolete since yesterday (since 1st July 2024). There is no IPC; so, there is no Section 420.
(a) Those who have forgotten Noakhali, how can they protest Sandeshkhali?
(b) Have no fear of perfection - you'll never reach it. ---------- Salvador Dali