NEW DELHI: India’s government unveiled new punishments for mob lynchings and crimes against women on Friday in a proposal for the country’s biggest criminal justice overhaul since the British colonial era.

India’s Penal Code and other statutes governing the police and courts were introduced in the 19th century, while the country was governed by the British crown.

Sweeping changes to the laws would remove archaic references to the British monarchy and other “signs of our slavery”, Home Minister Amit Shah told parliament on Friday.

New provisions in the laws would impose the death penalty on perpetrators of mob lynchings and minimum sentences of 20 years for gang rape.

The bills also introduce community service provisions for petty crimes to ease the chronic backlog of criminal cases in Indian courts, which have millions of pending cases.

Fixed timelines would be imposed for trials and criminal investigations in a country where both can drag on for years without result.

The bills have been referred to a parliamentary committee for further deliberation but could be passed before the current legislature dissolves ahead of general elections next May.

Published in Dawn, August 12th, 2023