West Bengal Bar Council Declares July 1 a "Black Day" to Protest New Laws Replacing IPC, CrPC, and Evidence Act
Lawyers to Boycott Work in West Bengal and Andaman and Nicobar Islands Against "Anti-People and Draconian" Legislation
On Friday, the Bar Council of West Bengal said it would have a "black day" on July 1 to protest the three new laws that will replace the IPC, CrPC, and Evidence Act. The council called the new laws "anti-people and draconian."
On July 1, the three new rules, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Sanhita, will go into effect.
Lawyers who work in courts in West Bengal and the Andaman and Nicobar islands will not do any work on July 1 because of a decision made by the Bar Council of West Bengal.
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill, 2023, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita Bill, 2023, and the Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, 2023 were introduced in Parliament by the BJP-led NDA government in August of last year. They will replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and the Indian Evidence Act.
Saying that the new laws are "anti-people, undemocratic, and draconian," the Bar Council of West Bengal said in a press release that July 1 will be a "black day" as a protest. Lawyers who work in courts in the state and on the Andaman and Nicobar islands will not do any work on that day.
Also, on July 1, it asked all bar associations to hold protest meetings in their own areas.
