New criminal laws: Delhi records first FIR under new penal code BNS against a street vendor

A street vendor was charged under Section 285 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

With the new criminal laws taking effect, Delhi has registered its first FIR under Section 173 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which replaces the British-era Indian Penal Code.

A street vendor was charged under Section 285 of the BNS for obstructing a foot overbridge at the New Delhi Railway Station by selling tobacco products and water from a cart. The vendor ignored police requests to relocate the cart.

All FIRs filed from July 1 onwards will follow the BNS provisions, while cases registered up to June 30 will continue under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), and the Indian Evidence Act.

BNS, with 358 sections, reduces the 511 sections under the IPC, introduces new crimes, extends imprisonment for some, increases fines, and introduces community service. The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) has 531 sections compared to 484 under CrPC, with significant changes, while the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) replaces the Indian Evidence Act, adding and modifying several sections.

Also read: New criminal laws will mean procedural change; offences, though, remain much the same: Sr Adv Amit Desai

The new laws, implemented after six months of consultations with various stakeholders, aim to modernise India's criminal justice system with technology.

Home Minister Amit Shah held 158 meetings to review 3,200 suggestions, leading to the drafting of these three new laws, which were approved by Parliament following recommendations from a parliamentary standing committee.