Hyderabad: Justice Bollam Vijaysen Reddy of the Telangana High Court said the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, can decolonise the Indian justice system. Justice Reddy pointed out that penal laws serve as instruments to uphold various interests in line with the constitutional vision and evolving societal perceptions.
The Centre had tabled the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill, 2023 to repeal the Indian Penal Code of 1860.
He highlighted the significant changes brought about in the Indian criminal justice system by the Supreme Court's guidelines in cases like Arnesh Kumar (guidelines on arrest of a person) and Lalita Kumari (mandatory registration of an FIR). Prior to these guidelines, police officers had discretion in registering FIRs and making arrests.
However, Justice Vijaysen Reddy acknowledged that there are pros and cons to every issue, noting that some unnecessary FIRs have been filed.
Justice Vijaysen Reddy made these remarks while speaking at a symposium on Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, organised by the All Indian Prosecutors Association (AIPA). High Court advocate Padmarao Lakkaraju, who serves as vice-president of AIPA, mentioned that the discussions held during the symposium would be presented to the Parliamentary Committee on Home Affairs for consideration during the Bill's passage.
