India is set to enter a new era in its legal system with the enforcement of three new criminal laws on Monday, July 1. These laws, named the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, will replace the colonial-era Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, and the Indian Evidence Act, respectively.
The new laws aim to modernise India's justice system by incorporating several contemporary features. Among these are Zero FIR, which allows for the immediate filing of a First Information Report (FIR) regardless of jurisdiction, online police complaint registration, electronic summonses via SMS, and mandatory videography of crime scenes for all serious offences. These changes are expected to streamline legal processes and enhance the efficiency and transparency of law enforcement.
Following the notification of these new criminal laws on December 25, 2023, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) initiated extensive preparations to ensure their effective implementation and to raise awareness among all relevant stakeholders. This includes police, prison officials, prosecutors, judicial officers, forensic personnel, and the general public.
To support these new laws, the existing Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) application underwent 23 functional updates. These updates are designed to align with the technological requirements of the new laws, including FIR filing and other key processes.
States and Union Territories (UTs) received technical support to facilitate a smooth transition to the new system, with support teams and call centres established to provide continuous monitoring and assistance.
In addition, the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) is developing the CCTNS 2.0 application. This new version will incorporate secure cloud storage and features for crime scene videography and forensic evidence collection.
To further support these efforts, the MHA launched a mobile and web application called the NCRB Compendium of Criminal Laws. This app is available on multiple platforms, including the NCRB, Ministry of Home Affairs, Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D), Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA), and iGot websites, as well as on Google Play Store and iOS.
Another significant development is the e-Sakshaya app, which enables the videography and photography of crime scenes and document onboarding. This app has been distributed to all police departments across states and Union Territories, and comprehensive testing has been completed.
Similarly, the Nyayashruti App facilitates electronic judicial hearings and document onboarding and has been shared with all states/UTs and the e-Committee of the Supreme Court for court implementation. The e-Summon App facilitates the electronic service of court summonses.
In line with the new laws, necessary updates were made to the CCTNS, e-Prison, e-Prosecution, and e-Forensic applications. These updates ensure that these systems are fully compatible with the new legal framework.
To build capacity among various stakeholders, the MHA implemented comprehensive training initiatives. These included the development of several training modules and the conduct of over 250 training courses, webinars, and seminars, resulting in the training of a large number of officers and personnel.
Control rooms with teams comprising law and police officers have been established to manage and address queries and challenges raised by field personnel during the implementation of the new laws.
The MHA also carried out extensive publicity campaigns on social media to inform the public about the three new criminal laws. Ministries published advisories, press releases, and infographics on social media platforms. Additionally, dialogue workshops were held in state capitals, focusing on regional media to highlight the benefits of implementing the new laws.
As India embarks on this new journey, the government remains committed to ensuring that these laws not only modernise the legal system but also make justice more accessible and efficient for all citizens.
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