The Union Home Ministry is set to roll out three new criminal laws next week, supported by an extensive training program involving 40 lakh grassroots functionaries and over 5.65 lakh police and judicial officials. These new legislations, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023, will replace the British-era Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, and Indian Evidence Act, respectively.
Starting July 1, these laws will bring significant changes to the criminal justice system in India. The new legislations emphasize the use of technology in investigations, trials, and court proceedings. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) has already made 23 modifications to the Crime and Criminal Tracking Networks and Systems application to facilitate this transition.
To ensure smooth implementation, the NCRB is providing technical assistance to states and Union territories. Additionally, 36 support teams and call centers have been established for continuous review and guidance. The Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) has also played a crucial role, developing training modules and conducting 250 training courses, webinars, and seminars, training 40,317 officers and personnel.
The capacity-building efforts have reached 5,84,174 individuals, including 5,65,746 police officers and personnel from prisons, forensics, judiciary, and prosecution. Through the iGOT-Karmayogi Bharat platform and BPR&D, three training courses on the new laws have seen enrollment from 2,17,985 officials.
Public awareness initiatives are also in place, particularly focusing on the positive impacts of these laws on women and children. The Ministries of Women and Child Development, Rural Development, and Panchayati Raj have disseminated information through webinars involving nearly 40 lakh grassroots level functionaries. Additionally, the Department of Legal Affairs has organized four conferences in state capitals, engaging Chief Justices, judges, and domain experts.
The Department of Higher Education has circulated informative flyers to 1,200 universities and 40,000 colleges, while AICTE has reached approximately 9,000 institutions to sensitize faculties and students. The National Informatics Centre has developed applications such as eSakshya, NyayShruti, and eSummon to facilitate videography of crime scenes, judicial hearings, and electronic delivery of court summons.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has also undertaken various initiatives to publicize the new laws. The Press Information Bureau has conducted 17 nationwide media workshops, while public broadcasters Doordarshan and Akashvani have organized special programs to highlight the significant provisions and benefits. MyGov has uploaded informative flyers on its social media handles and sent emails to over seven crore citizens.
These comprehensive efforts ensure that states and Union territories are fully prepared in terms of technology, capacity building, and public awareness for the implementation of the new criminal laws. The legislations, passed by Parliament in the winter session of 2023 and notified in the Gazette of India on December 25, 2023, mark a transformative step in India’s criminal justice system.
Sources By Agencies
