The eight Bills passed by Lok Sabha on December 23 without a debate in 17 minutes included a radically revamped Criminal Procedure Code, which divests the police of the usual arrest powers in all cases where the maximum possible sentence is seven years or less. Since the CrPC amendment Bill had been cleared earlier by Rajya Sabha on December 18, it is all set to pass into law once President Pratibha Patil gives her assent. Thanks to amendments recently passed in Parliament.
Instead of arresting the accused, the police will now be obliged to issue him a “notice of appearance” for any offence punishable with imprisonment up to seven years, which
