In a landmark moment, the first FIR under the newly enacted Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 was registered against a street vendor at Kamla Market Police Station in New Delhi on Monday, July 1, as reported by news agency ANI. The newly introduced criminal laws, which came into effect across India on the same day, saw their inaugural case involving Pankaj Kumar, a resident of Barh, Bihar.

Kumar was charged under Section 285 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for obstructing a footover bridge near the New Delhi Railway Station with his sales cart. The FIR states that Kumar was selling water and tobacco near the main road in Kamla Market, causing inconvenience to commuters. Despite being asked by patrolling officers to remove his cart, Kumar reportedly ignored the instructions, leading to the registration of the FIR.

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which has replaced the Indian Penal Code (IPC), comprises 358 sections, with 20 new crimes added and increased penalties for 33 offenses. Notably, the Sanhita has raised the fines for 83 crimes and introduced mandatory minimum punishments for 23 offenses. It also incorporates penalties for community service in six crimes and has repealed 19 sections from the previous legislation.

In addition to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the CrPC has been replaced by the Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and the Indian Evidence Act has been supplanted by the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam. These changes mark a significant overhaul aimed at modernizing India's justice system. New provisions include Zero FIR, online registration of police complaints, electronic summonses via SMS, and mandatory videography of crime scenes for all heinous crimes.

Moving forward, all new FIRs will be registered under these new laws from July 1, while cases filed under the old laws will continue to be tried until their final resolution.

Also Read: New Criminal Laws Take Effect From July 1: What It Means Explained