The proposed Criminal Bill states spreading fake news can land you in jail for three years; details here

Digital Desk: The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill, 2023, was tabled in Lok Sabha on Friday by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

The proposed bill, which has been forwarded to the Standing Committee for examination, includes a clause under section 195 that states that individuals who propagate "fake news or misleading information" endangering India's sovereignty and security will face up to three years in prison.

Section 195 (1) d states that "...whoever makes or publishes false or misleading information endangering India's sovereignty, unity, integrity, or security shall be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years, or with a fine, or with both."

The section resides in Chapter 11 of the newly proposed bill, under the heading 'Of Offences Against Public Tranquilly,' under the topic of 'Imputations, claims harmful to national unity.'

The laws concerning 'Imputations, claims harmful to national integration' were found in Section 153B of the Indian Penal Code.

Home Minister Amit Shah submitted three Bills in the Lok Sabha on Friday aimed at providing justice and upholding the rights granted to Indian citizens by the Constitution.

While introducing the proposals, Amit Shah stated that the fundamental objective of these three new laws will be to preserve all of the rights granted to citizens by the Constitution.

He stated that the three measures - the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill, 2023, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita Bill, 2023, and the Bharatiya Sakhshya Bill, 2023 - fulfil Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pledge to abolish all forms of slavery in his Independence Day statement.

The proposals will repeal the British-enacted Indian Penal Code of 1860, Criminal Procedure Code of 1898, 1973, and Indian Evidence Act of 1872.