West Bengal Bar Council Has Decided To Observe 1st July As “Black Day”

BY: THE LEX TIMES

The Bar Council of West Bengal has unanimously decided to observe July 1 as ‘Black Day’ in protest against the implementation of three new criminal laws: the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023, and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) 2023. These laws, which will replace the Indian Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure, and the Indian Evidence Act, are set to come into force on July 1.

During a meeting on June 25, council members expressed strong opposition to these laws, labeling them anti-people and undemocratic, and warning that they would cause significant hardships for the general public. The Council also called upon the presidents of all Bar Associations in West Bengal and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands to abstain from judicial work and to organize protest rallies on July 1.

“Resolved unanimously that as a mark of protest against Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023 and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023, this Council will observe 1st July 2024 as ‘Black Day’ and lawyers of West Bengal and Andaman & Nicobar Islands will abstain from their judicial work on that day and all Bar Association to organise protest rally in their respective association on the 1st July, 2024,” the resolution stated.