India enforces new criminal laws despite opposition seeking delay

NEW DELHI -- India on Monday implemented three new criminal laws that replace archaic colonial-era legislation, aiming to significantly overhaul its criminal justice system, despite opposition party and judicial experts requesting that their enforcement be delayed.

Among the legal reform's key highlights, it defines terrorism for the first time, drops the sedition law -- which was used under British rule to jail freedom fighters -- and introduces a provision for the death penalty over mob lynchings.