Not like different states dominated by opposition events, the AAP-ruled Punjab authorities has not but objected to the three new prison legal guidelines that got here into impact on Monday.
Regardless that the AAP had earlier joined the INDIA bloc MPs to protest in opposition to the brand new prison legal guidelines in Parliament, sources mentioned that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is but to put in writing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The truth is, the state has not solely supplied iPads, cellphones, and translations of the brand new prison legal guidelines to police stations throughout the state to make sure seamless transition, however has additionally began registering circumstances below it.
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah have written to the Centre in opposition to the implementation of the brand new legal guidelines. Whereas Banerjee has requested for pausing the brand new legal guidelines, Siddaramaiah had mentioned that he was contemplating amending them on the state stage. Nevertheless, like Punjab, neighbouring Congress-ruled Himachal Pradesh has additionally began registering circumstances below the brand new legal guidelines.
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, has changed the Indian Penal Code, 1860; the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023, changed the Indian Proof Act, 1872; and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, has been applied instead of the Code of Prison Process, 1882.
In the meantime, an AAP chief mentioned that despite the fact that they wished to protest the implementation of the brand new legal guidelines, the state management was been busy with Lok Sabha elections earlier and now with Meeting bypolls and therefore, didn’t get the time to take action.
A Punjab authorities official mentioned that they procured iPads and cellphones and handed these over to senior law enforcement officials in order that they’ll distribute it to document digital proof. “We’ve already circulated the SOPs and coaching manuals in order that there aren’t any hiccups,” he mentioned, including that the state authorities had arrange eight committees round 5 months in the past to all perceive legalities. These committees have been headed by SGP and ADGP stage officers and the coaching half was dealt with by MGSIPA.
Because the legal guidelines weren’t supplied by the Centre in Punjabi, the state has assigned the Authorized Remembrancer for the interpretation. “The interpretation will take a while. Nevertheless, only some provisions have been modified, a number of have simply been renumbered. The interpretation is being vetted by authorized specialists. Usually, states mustn’t translate these Acts. It’s the duty of the issuing authority of the Acts to provide the variations. Usually, all these Acts are issued in Hindi initially and are later issued in vernaculars,” the official added.
In the meantime, democratic and public organisations have expressed their considerations about new prison legal guidelines, which in response to them give extra energy to the police. Affiliation for Democratic Rights, Tarksheel Society and others will likely be holding a conference and protest at Desh Bhagat Yadgaar corridor, Jalandhar, on July 21.
The organisations took out rallies on Monday at district/tehsil and city stage in lots of components of the state and in addition burnt copies of notification of three new legal guidelines. A memorandum was additionally despatched to the President demanding instant cancellation of the circumstances registered below it.
Prof Jagmohan Singh from AFDR mentioned, “These legal guidelines give extra energy to police to maintain an individual for as much as 90 days in police custody in opposition to the sooner 15 days whereas they’ve been given extra powers to make use of drive on demonstrating folks. In a approach, they’re making an attempt to gag the voice of the frequent man.”
Rajinder Bhadaur, one other speaker from AFDR added, “We strongly condemn the Punjab authorities for organising coaching camps for normal officers as a way to implement these oppressive legal guidelines. Don’t know why are they in a rush.”
Pritpal Singh from Tarksheel Society mentioned that by renumbering IPC sections, they’re making an attempt to idiot the plenty.
Additionally they protested in opposition to submitting of a case below UAPA by the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi in opposition to author Arundhati Roy and Prof Sheikh Shaukat Hussain on the idea of their 14-year-old speech. Jagmohan mentioned that that is an assault on the basic, constitutional and democratic rights of residents to precise their opinions via writing and speech and is a step in direction of suppression of dissenting opinions.