The Bar Council of India has appealed to all bar associations to refrain from protests and demonstrations against the new criminal laws – Bharatiya Naya Sanhiya, Bharatiya Citizen Protection Sanhta and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhanim – which are set to come into effect from July 1.
These laws repeal and replace the Indian Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Indian Evidence Act.
The BCI said it has received representations from various bar associations and state bar councils expressing concern about several provisions of the new rules. Several times the associations also indicated their intention to start agitation against the rules. The BCI noted that eminent legal experts such as Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Mukal Rohatgi, Vivek Thanka, P. Wilson, Dushant Dev, Indira Jaising and many others have also strongly opposed these laws.
The BCI assured the legal community that it would take up these issues seriously and convey the concerns of lawyers to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and the Union Ministry of Law.
The BCI said it would seek intervention of Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav to mediate the matter as he himself is a lawyer.
BCI requested all bar associations and senior advocates to explain the new provisions which are considered unconstitutional or harmful.
“On receipt of specific suggestions from bar associations, BCI will constitute a committee comprising eminent senior lawyers, former judges, social activists and journalists to suggest necessary amendments to the new rules,” said BCI secretary Srimanthu Sen. .