Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Vice President of India and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar strongly criticized senior Congress leader P Chidambaram’s remarks on the newly enacted criminal laws, labeling them as “defamatory” and “highly insulting” towards Members of Parliament.
Chidambaram, a former Union minister, claimed that the government bypassed the Law Commission while enacting the three new criminal laws. He asserted that the Law Commission, which includes retired judges, legal experts, professors, and permanent legal staff, typically consults with bar council members and advocate associations before presenting a draft to Parliament. Chidambaram dismissed the drafters of the new criminal laws as “part-timers.”
Responding at an event at the Indian Institute of Space and Technology on Saturday, Dhankhar stated, “I do not have words strong enough to condemn such a narrative. These are derogatory, defamatory, and highly insulting observations towards Members of Parliament.” He urged Chidambaram to withdraw his comments, cautioning, “If you say something you don’t believe in, people will believe you because of your elevated position. Informed people can also mislead you.”
Discussing the new criminal laws implemented on July 1, Dhankhar emphasized that they aim to serve justice rather than focus on punishment, contrasting them with colonial laws. “From Danda Vidhan, we have come to Nyaya Vidhan,” he remarked.
Dhankhar also refuted allegations that the laws were drafted without proper consultation, pointing out that not only Chidambaram but also his distinguished colleagues and senior advocates did not participate in the drafting process.
The three new laws—Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA)—replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), and Indian Evidence Act. Signed by the President in December last year, they were implemented on July 1, 2024. While the opposition has criticized the new laws as being mere replicas of the old ones, the government has highlighted significant changes to address technological advancements.
The confrontation over the new criminal laws continues to stir political debate, with Dhankhar’s comments adding to the ongoing discourse.
