Assembly passes motion for review of criminal laws

The West Bengal Assembly on Thursday passed a resolution seeking a review by the Central government of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which were recently implemented in the country, replacing the IPC and the CrPC.

Following a two-day discussion on the resolution, which was brought by the state’s Law Minister Moloy Ghatak and other Trinamool Congress members on Wednesday, the House passed it on voice vote on Thursday. The resolution urged the Centre to review the new laws to evolve consensus views of jurists, social activists and citizens in the interest of good governance and to protect the principles of fundamental rights and natural justice.

BJP, meanwhile, rejected the state ruling party’s claims that the new laws were “draconian and anti-people”. Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari said that stakeholders’ opinions, including that of CM Mamata Banerjee, were taken before the Bill was passed in Parliament. “If she had any reservations… she should have raised it earlier… Passing a resolution now makes no sense,” he said.