Former Senior Bureaucrats representating Constitutional Conduct Group warn : The Three New Criminal Laws Could Undermine Indian Democracy...and constitutional rights and civil liberties of common public, claims the CCG
SHIMLA/NEW DELHI, June 21 – A coalition of over 109 retired senior officers and bureaucrats from the Constitutional Conduct Group have sounded the alarm over India's imminent new criminal laws, claiming they could turn the nation into a "functional dictatorship."
In a letter addressed to the President, Prime Minister, and Home Minister of India, as well as leaders of national and state parties, these seasoned ex-civil servants argue that the amended Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023 (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023 (BSA) threaten the very fabric of democracy.
A Few of of them- Deepak Sanan Avay Shukla, BM Nanta and others signatories to the letter- are also from Himachal. But the group has pan- India representation that has given substance to the letter doing rounds of social media.
"These laws, coming into effect on July 1, 2024, were rushed through without substantial public debate or opposition scrutiny," the letter states. "This lack of transparency has left crucial questions unanswered."
The letter outlines three major concerns. First, it argues that the laws allow governments—whether at the Union or State level—to criminalize legitimate, non-violent dissent, effectively muzzling opposition.
Second, the laws grant sweeping powers that could be used to selectively target and terrorize innocent civilians and honest public servants, branding them as terrorists or anti-national.
Third, they claim the laws effectively normalize extraordinary powers that should be reserved for emergencies, jeopardizing India's status as a democracy.
"The potential for political abuse is enormous," the letter warns, highlighting the current "vitiated political atmosphere" and the increasing intolerance to dissent.
The group demands an urgent deferral of the laws' implementation and calls for an all-party meeting to address the concerns and build a national consensus.
The signatories include high-profile former officials like Anita Agnihotri, Anand Arni, and Julio Ribeiro, among others, who have served in top capacities across various government departments.
They stress that the enforcement of these laws could "hollow out our constitutional rights and jeopardize our democracy."
In a concluding plea, they urge India’s political leadership to act decisively to protect democratic values, echoing the credo "Satyameva Jayate"—Truth Alone Triumphs.
This letter from the Constitutional Conduct Group adds to the growing clamor against the controversial laws, reflecting deep-seated anxieties about the future of democratic governance in India.
