Three new criminal laws are copy,cut and paste : P Chidambaram

Congress leader P Chidambaram has alleged in his  “X” handle that 90-99 per cent of the so-called new laws are a cut, copy and paste job. He said  that a task  could have been completed with a few amendments to the existing three laws has been turned into a wasteful exercise.

He admitted that   there are a few improvements in the new laws and we have welcomed them. But they could have been introduced as Amendments,he added.

On the other hand, he said, “There are several retrograde provisions. Some changes are prima facie unconstitutional. MPs who were members of the Standing Committee have poured over the provisions and written detailed dissent notes to the three Bills”.

He commented that though Law scholars, Bar Associations, judges and lawyers have in numerous articles and seminars pointed out the grave deficiencies in the three new laws no one in government has cared to answer the questions.

“It is another case of bulldozing three existing laws and replace them with three new Bills without adequate discussion and debate.The initial impact will be to throw the administration of criminal justice into disarray:Chidambaram said.

In the medium term, numerous challenges to the laws will be instituted in various Courts,he stated.

In the long term, further changes must be made to the three laws to bring them in conformity with the Constitution and the modern principles of criminal jurisprudence,Chidambaram opined.