Amidst a national debate on the use of sedition charges against Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students, Indian President Pranab Mukherjee has called for a revision of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) to meet the needs of the 21st century.
Speaking at an event in Kochi on the occasion of the year-long celebrations of the 155th anniversary of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) on Friday, the president said that it has undergone very few changes since its inception.
“The IPC has undergone very few changes in the last 155 years. Very few crimes have been added to the initial list of crimes and declared punishable,” he said, according to an Indian newspaper.
“Even now, there are offences in the code which were enacted by the British to meet their colonial needs. Yet, there are many new offences which have to be properly defined and incorporated in the code,” he said.
The premier code for criminal law was a model piece of legislation but required a “thorough revision to meet the changing needs of the 21st century”, he said.
President Pranab Mukherjee also said that the police in the country must incorporate inclusiveness and tolerance. He even added that the image of police depended on its actions and in ensuring prompt, equitable and fair enforcement of laws.