Port Blair, Sept. 11: One Stop Centre under the Directorate of Social Welfare organized an online awareness session on three new criminal laws namely, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita replaces the Indian Penal Code, the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita replaces the Criminal Procedure Code of 1973 and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam replaces the Indian Evidence Act.

Dr. Nitin Shakya, Director (SW), emphasized the importance of the session in his address, these new laws are designed to better align with the current needs, ensuring a more efficient and fair criminal justice system. Smti M. Janagi Savuriyammal, Case Worker, One Stop Centre briefed about the objectives of One Stop Centre, which provides integrated support and assistance to women affected by violence during distress in private and public spaces. 

The resource person, Smti Nandini, Sub-Inspector, PS Aberdeen elaborated on the three new Criminal Laws and the key changes in the laws. Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita replaces the Indian Penal Code which retains the provisions of the IPC, reduces the number of sections from 511 to 358, increases penalties for several offences, and introduces many new offences, including hate crimes, mob lynching, terrorism, organized crime and hate speech and redefines sedition as Acts.

She further briefed about the sections that deal with offences against women and children which includes misbehave by husband upon his wife during separation, assault or use of criminal force to women with intent to outrage her modesty, cohabitation caused by man deceitfully inducing belief of lawful marriage.

In addition, she briefed about the Domestic Violence Act, 2005 and several orders in the Domestic Violence Act such as Restriction Order, Protection Order, Residential Order, and Maintenance Order. The program was attended by good number of general public and Homemakers.