New Delhi. The Supreme Court will today hear a petition challenging the validity of three new criminal laws - 1. Indian Justice Code (BNS), 2. Indian Civil Security Code (BNSS) and 3. Indian Evidence Act (BSA). 

These three laws were passed last year as an alternative to the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and Indian Evidence Act (IEA), for which the Central Government has issued a notification to implement them from July 1. The hearing on the petition is likely to be presided over by Justice Bela M. Trivedi and Justice Pankaj Mithal.Why opposition to the three laws? 

Advocate Vishal Tiwari has claimed in a public interest litigation (PIL) that the new laws are extremely draconian and were passed last December without adequate parliamentary debate as several opposition MPs were facing suspension proceedings at the time. 

According to the PIL, it has raised concerns regarding loopholes and anomalies in the laws, including those related to sedition, terrorism and enhanced powers to magistrates.

What are the three new laws?

Indian Penal Code (BNC):  This law provides for crimes like secession, armed rebellion and sedition in the country, which will now replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC) 1860. This law also defines terrorism.

Indian Civil Security Code (BNSS): This  law  will replace the CrPC, 1898, which expands the powers of magistrates to impose fines and declare offences.

Indian Evidence Act (BSA):  This law replaces the Indian Evidence Act (IEA) 1872, which provides for the admissibility of evidence and the procedures to be followed.

This demand was made in the PIL

Vishal Tiwari has demanded a temporary stay on the implementation of the new laws in the PIL. Along with this, the PIL has also demanded the immediate formation of an expert committee to assess the feasibility and possible impact of the laws on fundamental rights.