West Bengal Assembly: The West Bengal Assembly on Thursday (August 1) passed a resolution demanding the central government to review the new laws that have replaced the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) in the country. Opposition BJP members criticised the resolution, arguing that it was a waste of the House’s time as the new laws had already been implemented. Bengal Law Minister Moloy Ghatak said during the discussion that many questions were being raised against these three new laws.
BJP members rejected the claims of Trinamool Congress (TMC) members that the new laws are “draconian and anti-people”, calling them baseless. Meanwhile, after a two-day discussion on the proposal brought by state Law Minister Malay Ghatak and other Trinamool Congress members, the House passed it by voice vote.
Central government should review the new laws again
In this proposal, the Centre was urged through the West Bengal government to review the new laws to develop the consensus views of jurists, social workers and citizens in the interest of good governance and to protect the fundamental rights and principles of natural justice. In fact, three new criminal laws – Indian Justice Code, Indian Civil Protection Code and Indian Evidence Act came into force across the country from July 1, replacing the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and Indian Evidence Act respectively.
Mamata Banerjee’s opinion was taken before the bill was passed in Parliament- Shubhendu Adhikari
However, opposing the proposal, Leader of Opposition Shubhendu Adhikari said that the opinion of stakeholders, including West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, was taken before the bill was passed in Parliament. He said that Banerjee had sent her opinion, suggestions and objections on the matter to the central government through a letter in November 2023, in which she had said that extreme caution should be exercised and all stakeholders should be consulted before implementing the new laws.
The Home Minister had responded to CM Banerjee’s letter in the second week of December 2023
BJP leader Shubhendu Adhikari said the Union home minister had responded to Banerjee’s letter in the second week of December 2023. The official said the central government enacted the three laws under the powers vested in it under the Concurrent List in the Constitution and thus the proposal and discussion on it meant wasting valuable time of the assembly.
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