LAWS are made by man to protect society and the individual. Founded with the idea of creating order and keeping society safe, laws have turned into comprehensive machinery so complex that they exceed the understanding of a commoner. This has given space for the resourceful to exploit it, leading not only to the delay in justice but also its denial, frustrating the very objective of establishing the order.
As humanity continues down the path of time, society will undoubtedly change. This necessitates the need for the law to adapt to the ever-evolving conscience and morality of society. Given its historical background and diverse strata, India has a demanding task of modifying its laws to make them more accessible.
At a recent event, Home Minister Amit Shah said that they have initiated a committee for reform of criminal laws in India and the agenda is to make them “people-centric”. This is a welcome move, but at the same instant, a huge responsibility lies with parliamentarians and us the citizens” to tread the path with real vision. A half-hearted attempt would turn the clock back and slow the evolution of criminal jurisprudence in India.
There is no doubt that a considerable time has passed since the major criminal laws of the country-Indian Penal Code of 1860, Indian Evidence Act of 1872 and the Criminal Procedure Code of 1973-were enacted. Their status now requires review. In the 21st century, human minds are more complex than Macaulay's code could possibly anticipate and account for. Thus, it seems imperative to overhaul these laws in the light of our evolving morality and social constructs.
This story is from the January 31, 2022 edition of India Legal.
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This story is from the January 31, 2022 edition of India Legal.
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