In the wake of the spike in mob lynching incidents in the last few months, the Narendra Modi government is looking into the possibility of bringing changes in the Indian Penal Code to define ‘mob lynching’ as a penal offence, PTI quoted a senior government functionary as saying on Sunday.
Besides, the government is also considering another option of drafting a model law that states can adopt to prevent incidents of mob lynching, he said. “Everything is in the preliminary stage as the entire Supreme Court order asking the Centre to come up with a new law has to be examined,” he added.
If the IPC is amended, the government will not have to bring a strand alone law on mob lynching. However, if the burden of proof to prove innocence is put on the accused, then certain sections of the CrPC and the Indian Evidence Act would also require amendments, the functionary said. He said it will take several days before the government firms up its stand.