Understanding Public Safety and Responsibility under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023: Provisions on Handling Dangerous Substances
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, presents revised provisions to increase public safety through the regulation of hazardous substances in India. Replacing the Indian Penal Code, it focuses on responsibility and accountability, with stricter punishments for negligence or actions threatening public welfare. Section 285, for example, focuses on acts leading to danger or obstruction in public places, with penalties up to ₹5,000. New crimes, such as terrorism and organized crime, are a modernized vision of safety. This abstract examines these provisions and how they work to create a safer society.