In a significant development, the newly enacted Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita has seen its first FIR filed against a street vendor obstructing a road near New Delhi Railway Station. This marks the first application of Section 285 of the new criminal code, which penalizes individuals who, by their actions or negligence, create hazards, obstructions, or injuries in public spaces, with fines up to five thousand rupees.
The incident unfolded when a patrolling police officer spotted the vendor selling water bottles and gutkha on the roadway. Despite multiple warnings to move his stall, the vendor, who was causing a traffic obstruction, refused to comply. Consequently, the police officer proceeded to file an FIR.
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The FIR, quoted by the NDTV, details that the vendor had set up his stall under a foot overbridge near the Delhi railway station late at night. The document highlights that the vendor was selling water, bidi, and cigarettes, creating an obstruction for the public. Despite repeated requests from a sub-inspector to clear the road, the vendor remained non-compliant.
Efforts by the sub-inspector to involve passers-by in the investigation were unsuccessful, leading him to document the situation using the e-praman application. The vendor has been identified as Pankaj Kumar, hailing from Patna, Bihar.
Also Read: British-era laws out, India gets 3 new criminal laws for ‘speedy justice’
Today marks the enforcement of three new criminal codes: the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam. These codes have replaced the outdated colonial-era Indian Penal Code, Indian Evidence Act, and the Code of Criminal Procedure.
The new legal framework aims to expedite justice and address contemporary criminal activities, mandating that judgments be delivered within 45 days of trial completion and charges framed within 60 days of the initial hearing.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has asserted that the reforms are intended to provide “speedy justice and justice to all.” However, the rapid implementation of these new laws has drawn criticism from Opposition parties, including the Congress, which argue that more thorough consultation was needed before the changes were enacted.
