Bar Council of West Bengal Announces ‘Black Day’ Protest Against New Criminal Laws

The Bar Council of West Bengal has announced a ‘Black Day’ protest on 1st of July in opposition to the implementation of three new criminal laws by the central government, which are slated to replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Evidence Act, and Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).

As per the resolution adopted during the Council meeting on 25^th June, the members of the Bar Council express their unanimous views on 1) Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 2) Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 and 3) Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023. These three Acts are deemed anti-people, undemocratic, draconian, and predicted to inflict great hardship on the common people. The Bar Council of West Bengal, finding no alternative, vehemently protests against these Acts, as excerpted from the resolution.

The Bar Council members have unanimously decided to protest the three new criminal laws by marking July 1st as a Black Day for lawyers throughout West Bengal and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. On that day, they will refrain from all judicial work and instead organize protest rallies.

Notably, on 26^th June, the Bar Council of India (BCI) had urged all bar associations to abstain from immediate agitation or protest in response to the new criminal justice laws.

In a resolution passed on Wednesday, Senior advocate and BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra stated that the apex lawyers’ body recognized the numerous representations received from bar associations and state bar councils nationwide, expressing vehement opposition to the recently enacted criminal laws.

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