The Bar Council of India has urged all bar associations to refrain from any immediate agitation or protest against the three new criminal justice laws, which will come into effect in the country on July 1 2024.
The Bar Council of India has appealed to all Bar Associations to refrain from protests and agitations against new criminal laws – Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the Bhartiya Sakshya Adhiniyam which are set to take effect from 1st July 2024.
These laws repeal and replace the Indian Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Indian Evidence Act.
BCI said that it has received representations from several Bar Associations and State Bar Councils expressing concerns about many provisions of the new laws. Many Bar Associations also signaled their intention to launch agitations against the laws. Notable legal luminaries such as Senior Advocates Kapil Sibal, Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Mukul Rohatgi, Vivek Thanka, P. Wilson, Dushyant Dave, Indira Jaising and several others have voiced their strong opposition to these laws, the BCI stated.
The BCI assured the legal fraternity that will take up the issues seriously and will convey the concerns of the lawyers to the Union Home Ministry and the Union Law Ministry.
The BCI said that they will seek the intervention of the Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav to mediate the matter as he himself is an advocate.
The BCI requested all Bar Associations and Senior Advocates to specify the new provisions which are regarded as unconstitutional or detrimental.
“Upon” receiving specific suggestions from Bar Associations, the BCI will constitute a committee comprising noted Senior Advocates, former Judges, Social Activists and Journalists to propose necessary amendments to the new laws.” the BCI Secretary Srimanto Sen stated.
The Bar Council of West Bengal has declared a “Black Day” protest on 1st July against the implementation of the three new Criminal laws by the centre.
As per resolution of the Council meeting, the Members of the Council express their unanimous views regarding Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita, 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, and the Bhartiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023. These three Acts are Anti-people, undemocratic, draconian and will cause great hardship to the common people. Bar Council of West Bengal finding no other alternative raise their protest vehemently against these three Anti-people Act.
The Members of the Council have unanimously resolved to protest against the three new criminal laws by observing 1st July 2024 as a Black day for lawyers across West Bengal and Andaman & Nicobar Islands, who would abstain from all judicial work on that day to organize protest rallies.