Handcuffs should not be used for economic offenders, suggests parliamentary panel | Here's why

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PTI reported. The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS-2023) bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 11, along with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS-2023) and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA-2023) bills.

The three proposed laws seek to replace the Code of Criminal Procedure Act, 1898, the Indian Penal Code, 1860, and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, respectively. According to PTI, the parliamentary panel said it felt the use of handcuffs is appropriately restricted to select heinous crimes — in a bid to prevent escape of individuals accused of serious offences and ensure safety of police officers and staffers during arrests.

ALSO READ: List of Fugitive Economic Offenders in India Now, the parliamentary committee was of the view that "economic offences" should not be included in this category. This is because the term "economic offences" encompasses a wide range of offences — from petty to serious.

Therefore, it may not be suitable for blanket application of handcuffing in all cases falling under this category, the PTI report said. "The committee, therefore, recommends that Clause 43(3) may be suitably amended to delete the words 'economic offences' from the clause," the panel was quoted as saying.

ALSO READ: Who is Ramachandran Viswanathan? All you need to know as Bengaluru court declares him Fugitive Economic Offender What Clause 43(3) of BNSS says The rules for the use of handcuffs is outlined in Clause 43(3) of the BNSS. It states, "The police officer may, keeping in view the nature and gravity of the offence, use handcuff while effecting the arrest of a person who is a habitual, repeat offender who escaped from custody, who has committed offence of organised crime, offence of terrorist act, drug related