Former Chief Justice of India, UU Lalit, expressed his support for the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita-2023 (BNS-2023) during a seminar in Hyderabad. He praised the new laws for being created by the people themselves and not imposed from outside. The new penal code of the BNS was highlighted as a positive development by Justice Lalit.
He commended the new criminal laws for their beneficial provisions, such as increased punishment for culpable homicide in hit-and-run cases. Justice Lalit also mentioned the inclusion of “endangering the sovereignty and unity of the country” in relation to sedition, emphasizing the importance placed on the law by Parliament.
However, he expressed disappointment that the rape provisions in the new laws were not made gender-neutral, despite previous recommendations to do so. Justice Lalit also raised concerns about age criteria and punishments related to rape, as well as issues surrounding conspiracy with a common objective.
In addition to discussing cryptocurrency and cybercrimes, Justice Lalit highlighted topics like transnational jurisdiction, vicarious liability in negligence cases in the medical profession, and legal aspects of virtual persons. Others at the seminar, including the Additional Solicitor General for Telangana and NALSAR Vice-Chancellor, also welcomed the new laws but emphasized the need for ongoing monitoring and feedback to ensure effective implementation.
Former MLC and senior advocate N. Ramchander Rao noted that the criminal justice system needed to evolve with society’s changing needs. The introduction of new legislation aimed to modernize and improve the system by retaining relevant provisions, adding new ones, and removing outdated ones.
