Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday (December 3, 2024) said the implementation of the three new criminal laws in the country signifies the end of colonial-era laws, even as for decades after attaining independence the laws, unfortunately, continued to revolve around the “penal mindset”.

Mr. Modi was addressing a gathering at an event ‘Secure Society, Developed India- From Punishment to Justice’ held in Chandigarh, to mark the implementation of the three new criminal laws including the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam.

He said the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860, the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), 1973, and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 were brought by the Britishers, after 1857’s first major freedom rebellion.

“All these laws aimed to punish Indians, and keep them slaves, and regrettably even after attaining Independence, for decades, our laws continued to revolve around the same legal system (IPC, etc) and penal mindset… From time to time, attempts were made to improve these laws but their character remained the same,” he said.