Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill, 2023

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
Parliament of India
Long title A Bill to consolidate and amend the provisions relating to offences and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
Citation	Bill No. 121 of 2023
Considered by	Lok Sabha
Legislative history
Bill published on	11 August 2023
Introduced by	Amit Shah
Repeals
Indian Penal Code
Status: Pending

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS-2023; Hindi: भारतीय न्याय संहिता, romanized: Bhāratīya Nyāya Saṃhitā, lit. 'Indian Justice Code') is a proposed Bill introduced in the Lok Sabha. If enacted, it would replace the existing Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Introduction

On 11 August 2023, the Home Minister of India, Amit Shah, Introduced the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill, 2023 in Lok Sabha. This bill is considered to be a significant and monumental reform in the Indian Criminal Justice System.

The following are some of the changes that the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill, 2023, proposes to make to the Indian legal system:

• It repeals the sedition law, which has been criticized for being used to stifle dissent.
• It introduces new provisions to protect women and children from violence.
• It makes it easier for victims of crime to get justice.
• It strengthens the independence of the judiciary

Structure

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita is subdivided into 19 chapters consisting of 356 sections.The structure of code is similar to the Indian Penal Code. The outline of the Sanhita is as follows:

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita of 2023

Chapters	Sections	Classification of Offences
Chapter 1	Sections 1 to 3	Preliminary
Chapter 2	Sections 4 to 13	Of Punishments
Chapter 3	Sections 14 to 44	General Exceptions   of the Right to Private Defence (sections 34 to 44)
Chapter 4	Sections 45 to 62	Of Abetment, Criminal Conspiracy and Attempt
Chapter 5	Sections 63 to 97	Of Offences against Women and Children Of Sexual Offences (63 to 72) Of Criminal force and Assault against Women (73 to 78) Of Offences relating to Marriage (79 to 85) Of the Causing of Miscarriage, etc. (86 to 97)
Chapter 6	Sections 98 to 144	Of Offences affecting the Human Body Of Offences affecting Life (98 to 111j Of Hurt (112 to 125) Of Criminal Force and Assault (126 to 134) Of Kidnapping, Abduction, Slavery and Forced Labour (135 to 144)
Chapter 7	Sections 145 to 156	Of Offences Against the State
Chapter 8	Sections 157 to 166	Of Offences Relating to the Army, Navy and Air Force
Chapter 9	Sections 167 to 175	Of Offences Relating to Elections
Chapter 10	Sections 176 to 186	Of Offences Relating to Coins, Bank Notes, Currency Notes and Government Stamps
Chapter 11	Sections 187 to 195	Of Offences Against the Public Tranquility
Chapter 12	Sections 196 to 203	Of Offences by Or Relating to Public Servants
Chapter 13	Sections 204 to 224	Of Contempt of Lawful Authority of Public Servants
Chapter 14	Sections 225 to 267	Of False Evidences and Offences against Public Justice.
Chapter 15	Sections 268 to 295	Of Offences affecting the Public Health, Safety, Convince, Decency and Morals
Chapter 16	Sections 296 to 300	Of Offences Relating to Religion
Chapter 17	Sections 301 to 332	Of Offences against Property Of Theft (301 to 305) Of Extortion (306) Of Robbery and Dacoity (307 to 311) Of Criminal Misappropriation of Property (312 and 313) Of Criminal Breach of Trust (314) Of the Receiving of Stolen Property (315) Of Cheating (316 and 317) Of Fundamental Deeds and Disposition of Property (318 to 321) Of Mischief (322 to 326) Of Criminal Trespass (326 to 332)
Chapter 18	Sections 333 to 348	Of Offences Relating to Documents and to Property Marks Of Documents (333 to 343) Of Property Marks (344 to 348)
Chapter 19	Sections 349 to 356	Of Criminal Intimidation, Insult, Annoyance, Defamation, Etc Intimidation, Insult and Annoyance (349 to 353) Of Defamation (354) Of breach of contract to attend on and supply wants of helpless person (355) Repeal and Savings (356)

See also

• Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita
• Bharatiya Sakshya Bill