Government Strengthens Nationwide Implementation of New Criminal Laws Through Training, Technology and Judicial Reforms

Key Highlights:

• The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 (BSA) came into force nationwide from July 1, 2024.
• States and Union Territories have implemented necessary measures including notifications, digital applications, and capacity building.
• The Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) has trained 83,740 officers and stakeholders across all 36 States and UTs since 2024.
• The Central Government supports states financially through schemes like Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) 2.0 and Nirbhaya Fund.
• Madhya Pradesh High Court has undertaken judicial reforms, including orientation for Judicial Officers and amendments to Case Information System (CIS) and e-Courts software.

Detailed Insights:

• The new criminal laws replace the Indian Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Code, and Indian Evidence Act, respectively.
• State and UT governments are primarily responsible for training police personnel and other state-level stakeholders.
• BPR&D conducts capacity-building programs and webinars, training Master Trainers who then further train personnel within their states.
• 'Police' and 'Public Order' are State-list subjects under the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution, making states responsible for law and order.
• The Central Government's financial support aims to augment criminal justice infrastructure and modernize forensic capacities.
• Madhya Pradesh's initiatives include continuous capacity building, strengthening digital court infrastructure, and effective implementation of e-Courts Phase-III.
• The Ministry of Home Affairs does not maintain data on cases registered using electronic evidence or community service provisions.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS): New law replacing the Indian Penal Code, defining criminal offenses and their punishments.
• Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS): New law replacing the Criminal Procedure Code, governing criminal procedure.
• Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA): New law replacing the Indian Evidence Act, regulating the admissibility of evidence in court.
• State-list subjects: Areas of legislative and executive power exclusively assigned to state governments under the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution.
• Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS): An initiative to integrate the criminal justice system's five pillars (police, courts, prisons, prosecution, forensic labs) through a common platform.