New Hit-And-Run Law : Protest All Over India
The countrywide truckers’ stir has been called off recently as the government assured that it would consult stakeholders before implementing a contentious law against hit-and-run.
New hit-and-run law:
- As per the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), if a driver causes a serious road accident due to careless driving and then leaves without informing the police or any official, they could be punished with up to 10 years in jail and a fine of Rs 7 lakh.
- BNS has established two distinct categories under the umbrella of “causing death by negligence.”
- The first category addresses causing death through any rash or negligent act that does not amount to culpable homicide.
- Offenders in this category may face imprisonment for up to five years and a fine.
- The second category deals with causing death through rash and negligent driving, not amounting to culpable homicide.
- If the individual escapes without promptly reporting the incident to a police officer or magistrate, they could be subjected to up to 10 years of imprisonment and a fine.
Old hit-and-run law:
- The old, British-era IPC did not have a specific provision for hit-and-run cases.
- Actions in such cases were taken under Section 304 A of the IPC.
- As per this section, an individual causing the death of another due to a reckless or negligent act could face a maximum jail term of two years or a fine.
- All cases of hit-and-run, along with other forms of activities that came under the ambit of causing death by a “rash and negligent act” were lodged under Section 304A of the IPC.
