25 Jun. 24: As the implementation date of three new criminal laws approaches on July 1, notable figures, including West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) senior lawyer Indira Jaising, and over 100 bureaucrats have called for its postponement. They are urging for a national-level public discussion culminating in parliamentary debate before the laws take effect.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, voicing serious concerns about the planned implementation. She advocates for placing these significant legislative changes before the newly elected Parliament for fresh deliberation and scrutiny. Banerjee stated, “Given the wide-ranging reservations expressed in the public domain regarding the hurriedly passed new laws, fresh parliamentary review of these attempts would demonstrate a commitment to democratic principles and foster greater transparency and accountability in the legislative process.”
The People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) echoed these sentiments in a letter to Law and Justice Minister Arjun Meghwal on June 23. They emphasized the importance of postponing the implementation and initiating a comprehensive national discussion.
The PUCL stressed that this request should not be viewed through a partisan lens but as a necessary step to safeguard the future of criminal law administration in India and uphold constitutional democracy.
Their letter warned that if the reforms concentrate power within the police and provide them with immunity from accountability, it could negatively impact all citizens, particularly marginalized communities.
Indira Jaising, former Additional Solicitor General, has also appealed to the Union Law Minister to defer the implementation until the laws are further scrutinized and discussed in detail.
Additionally, more than 100 former bureaucrats, under the banner of the Constitutional Conduct Group (CCG), have addressed an open letter to the President of India, the Prime Minister, the Union Home Minister, and leaders of all political parties. They requested an urgent review and a thorough debate on the laws before their enforcement.
This collective appeal underscores the widespread concern and demand for a transparent and democratic process in enacting significant legal reforms.
