As a measure to open a new battle front against the BJP --- particularly when the saffron outfit is passing through a leaner phase --- the Mamata Banerjee government is planning to bring a resolution in the Bengal Assembly against the three new criminal laws brought into force by the Centre from July 1.
The new laws are Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) which have replaced the Indian Penal Code (IPC),
Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and the Indian Evidence Act in that order.
According to inside sources the Trinamool Congress Government will not only bring a resolution but also try to find out ways of State-level amendments.
“Mamata Banerjee had already drawn the attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he returned to power requesting him to postpone for the time being the promulgation of the new laws as it is an open secret how the Government muscled its way in the last Lok Sabha and got laws passed by suspending all the opposition MPs… “there was no discussion held before passing them … this is like an undeclared Emergency our Chief Minister has already gone on record saying … in any case this arrogant government would not defer their promulgation … so there is no way but for Bengal to show the way by getting these laws amended as per the State’s requirements,” said a senior Trinamool MP adding the Chief Minister has asked them to raise the issue “non-stop in Parliament.”
Banerjee has already constituted a judicial committee to deliberate on the three new laws. The Panel comprises State Lokayukta Justice Ashim Roy, State Law Minister Maloy Ghatak, Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya --- also a lawyer by profession, Advocate General Kishore Dutta, State standing council in Supreme Court Sanjay Basu, Bengal Director General of Police
Rajeev Kumar and Kolkata Commissioner of Police Vineet Goyal. The committee may suggest change of the names of the laws “at the state level” apart from recommending other amendments, the TMC MP said. A State Government notification said, The committee shall have the power to engage academic experts, senior advocates, research assistants and other legal experts for seeking their views on the subject matter. It shall also have the power to carry out public consultation.
