Criminal law reform bills, bill on selection of Chief Election Commissioner in upcoming Winter Session of Parliament

The Winter Session of Indian Parliament, scheduled from December 4 to 22, is expected to discuss three criminal law reform bills as well as a bill on the selection of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), among others..The criminal reform bills comprise the three bills introduced by theCentral government on August 11. These areBharatiya Nyaya Sanhita to replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC);Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita to replace the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC); andBharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam to replace the Indian Evidence Act.The three bills were subsequently referred for further examination to the parliamentary standing committee headed by Brij Lal, which submitted its reports to Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on November 10..The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023 is also among the bills expected to be discussed in the 2023 winter session of Parliament. It was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on August 10.The bill deals with the constitution of a committee responsible for selecting the CEC and Election Commissioners (ECs).Contrary to the Supreme Court's suggestion in a March 2023 judgment, the panel does not have the Chief Justice of India (CJI) as a member,In the March 2023 judgment, the Supreme Court had said that until the Central government comes up with a law on appointments to the Election Commission of India, the appointments should be done on the advice of a committee comprising the Prime Minister, the CJI and the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha.The panel proposed by the new bill consists of the Prime Minister, a Union Cabinet Minister and the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha..Apart from these bills, fifteen more bills are expected to be taken up during the session that will have 15 sittings, as per bulletins uploaded by the Rajya Sabha as well as Lok Sabha secreatriats.Of these, eight are listed for consideration and passing while seven are listed for introduction, consideration and passing. .The following are the listed bills:.For consideration and passing1. The Post Office Bill, 2023 - introduced in Rajya Sabha on August 102. The Repealing and Amending Bill, 2023 - passed by Lok Sabha on July 273. The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 - introduced in Lok Sabha on July 26(The Bill Increases the number of seats in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly from 83 to 90, reserves seven seats for SCs and nine seats for STs, and provides for nominated seats for Kashmiri migrants and displaced persons.)4. The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 - introduced in Lok Sabha on July 265. The Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Castes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023 - introduced in Lok Sabha on July 266. The Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023 - introduced in Lok Sabha on July 267. The Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2023 - passed by Rajya Sabha on August 38. The Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023 - passed by Rajya Sabha on August 3.For introduction, consideration and passing1. The Boilers Bill, 2023 - Replaces the Boilers Act, 1923, which regulates steam-boilers.2. The Provisional Collection of Taxes Bill, 2023 - Re-enacts the Provisional Collection of Taxes Bill, 19313. The Central Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Bill 2023 - Incorporates the recommendations of the GST Council made in its 52nd meeting on October 7, 2023.4. The Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2023 - Adds provisions to reserve seats for women in the Puducherry Legislative Assembly5. The National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second (Amendment) Bill, 2023 - Extends the validity of the National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second Act, 2011, which protects certain forms of unauthorised developments in Delhi from punitive action, for three years, till 31 December, 2026.6. The Central University (Amendment) Bill, 2023 - Establishes a Central Tribal University in Telangana.7. The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization (Amendment) Bill, 2023 - Reserves one-third of the total number of seats in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly for women).[Read Rajya Sabha bulletin].[Read Lok Sabha bulletin]