The Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced three bills in Lok Sabha on Friday.

The three bills introduced are aimed at reforming the existing colonial-era criminal laws and bringing more harsher punishments for crimes such as mob lynching and the rape of minors.

The bills are Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita Bill, 2023; Bharativa Nyaya Sanita Bill, 2023; Bharativa Sakshva Bill, 2023.

Existing law -The Indian Penal Code of 1860 will be replaced by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, similarly existing law-The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita will replace the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 and Existing law -The Bharatiya Sakshya will replace Indian Evidence Act, 1872.

The Home Minister said the new bill  prioritises laws for crimes against women and children, murders and "offences against the state".

It seeks to revamp British-era laws, Amit Shah told parliament.

"The laws that will be repealed... the focus of those law was to protect and strengthen the British administration, the idea was to punish and not to give justice. By replacing them, the new three laws will bring the spirit to protect the rights of the Indian citizen," Mr Shah said in Lok Sabha.

"The aim will not be to punish, it will be to provide justice. Punishment will be given to create a sentiment of stopping crime," he added.

For mob lynching, according to the proposed law, the punishment will range from a minimum of seven years in jail up to death penalty.

"When a group of five or more persons acting in concert commits murder on the ground of race, caste or community, sex, place of birth, language, personal belief or any other ground each member of such group shall be punished with death or with imprisonment for life or imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than seven years, and shall also be liable to fine," the new provision states.

"When a group of five or more persons acting in concert commits murder on the ground of race, caste or community, sex, place of birth, language, personal belief or any other ground each member of such group shall be punished with death or with imprisonment for life or imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than seven years, and shall also be liable to fine," it says further.

For the punishment of a rape case of minors includes imprisonment of not less than twenty years, but which may extend to imprisonment for life and for gang rape, 20 years of imprisonment or life term.

The home minister further announced that the sedition law "has been repealed". The proposed law does not have the word "sedition". It is replaced by Section 150 for acts endangering the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India, Shah said.

Amit Shah also announced changes in the punishment for sedition. Under the existing law, sedition is punishable with life imprisonment or with imprisonment which may extend to three years. Provisions under the new bill proposed to change it to three to seven years imprisonment.