The three new laws received Parliament's nod on December 21, 2023. President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent on December 25, 2023, and was published in the official gazette on the same day.
Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) Prashant Kumar on Monday said that cases are being registered under the new criminal laws without any difficulty.
The three new criminal laws -- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, and Bharatiya Sakshya Sanhita (BSS), 2023 replaced the colonial era Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860, the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973 and Indian Evidence Act, 1872.
As the new criminal laws came into effect on Monday, Congress MP Manickam Tagore called for a debate again on the acts that were passed in December last year.
Rajya Sabha MP and senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani criticized the Opposition's demand for re-examination of the new criminal laws which came into effect on Monday, July 1.
Congress MP Manish Tewari called for a "re-examination" of the new criminal laws that came into force on Monday, referring to them as "draconian" and added that there are "enough reasons to pause" the implementation.
Congress MP Manish Tewari gave an adjournment motion in Lok Sabha on Monday seeking a discussion on the three new criminal laws that came into force from July 1.
As the new criminal laws came into force on Monday, Chhaya Sharma, Delhi Police Special CP (Training) said that over 45,000 officers in the force have been trained for the change.
Provisions related to the gang rape of a minor woman will become consistent with the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO), and a provision has been made for life imprisonment or death penalty in the case of girls below 18 years of age.
As the three new criminal laws come into effect today, several legal experts say there are big challenges ahead for law-enforcing agencies, judicial officers, and legal professionals.