The Central Government has rejected the Supreme Court’s suggestion to introduce a separate law for bail, asserting that the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023 already has adequate provisions for bail-related matters.
BNSS 2023 Covers Bail Provisions
In an affidavit submitted to the apex court, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) emphasized that Chapter 35 of BNSS 2023 provides comprehensive guidelines for bail and bonds, eliminating the need for a separate law.
Supreme Court’s Earlier Recommendation
The Supreme Court, in the 2022 Satender Kumar Antil vs. CBI case, had suggested introducing a bail law similar to the UK Bail Act. However, the Centre argued that BNSS 2023 already addresses the concerns raised by the court.
Assistance for Underprivileged Prisoners
The government has also issued guidelines for implementing the “Assistance for Poor Prisoners” scheme. It has advised states and union territories to form district-level empowered committees and state-level inspection panels to monitor the initiative.