India's criminal justice system have undergone a major overhaul. Three new criminal laws came into effect on Monday, replacing the 19th-century Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure and Indian Evidence Act, which were inherited from the British after securing independence in 1947.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government said that the new laws were needed to replace colonial legislation, which has been a central part of the country's criminal justice system for over a century. But the move has evoked a widespread controversy, sparking concerns among human rights groups, legal experts and opposition political parties.

The new laws were passed by the Indian parliament in December 2023. At the time, Home Minister Amit Shah said in a statement that "all aspects of the law [were] discussed extensively with various stakeholders" for years, and that, with India's new criminal laws "priority is to justice instead of punishment."

The opposition countered that the laws had been rushed through parliament without sufficient debate or consultation.

One of the key changes in the new legislation is the duration of police custody, which has increased from 15 days to 60, and in special cases can last up to 90 days. The laws also specify new provisions for terrorism and organized........

© Deutsche Welle