NEW DELHI, Jan. 8 -- The three criminal law bills, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhitha, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhitha and the Bharatiya Sakshya Sanhitha, which replace the Indian Penal Code 1860, the Criminal Procedure Code 1898 and the Indian Evidence Act. 1872, respectively, passed by the Parliament in the winter session, without any debate, with most opposition Members of Parliament under suspension, contrary to claims by the Union Government, are nothing but sugar-coated bitter pills.

If implemented without significant revisions, the bills notified in the Gazette of India on 25 December 2023 will adversely affect our fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution of India, especially free speech and the right to privacy. With t...