The three new Criminal Laws rolled out in the country will focus on justice rather than punishment and aimed at providing speedy justice, Deputy Inspector General of Police (Eastern Range) Davis NR Marak said.
The new criminal laws enacted last year are, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) 2023.
Set to come into effect from July 1, these new laws are poised to supplant the British-era Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, and the Indian Evidence Act, respectively.
Addressing media persons at a workshop held today on the new laws he said, “Timelines have been prescribed for time bound investigation, trail and pronouncement of judgements. Citizen-centric approach has been adopted for supply of copies of FIR, including by digital means, summary trails have been made mandatory for petty cases. The accused persons may be examined through electronic means like video conferencing and the magisterial system has also been streamlined”.
Describing these laws as a shift from an archaic colonial system, he said that these new laws have been designed and are being enacted by the government after considering it expedient and necessary to review the existing criminal laws with an aim to strengthen the law and order.
He said that the new laws represent a new direction for the criminal justice system of the country. The laws also focus on simplifying legal procedures to make existing laws relevant to contemporary situations and to provide speedy justice to common man, he added.
Underlining the emphasis on time bound verdicts and the limits on adjournments under the new laws, the DIG said that a citizen-centric criminal procedure has been adopted in the BNSS which has replaced the CrPC. He explained how it mandates a standardized procedure for recording, collecting, transporting and storing forensic evidence.
While explaining the BSA, Marak said that the Indian Evidence Act was enacted in 1872 and has been in use with some amendments but it does not address the technological advancements undergone in the country in the last few decades. The new law provides for evidence to be provided electronically and permit appearance of witnesses, accused persons, experts and victims through electronic means like video conferencing. Other changes have also been brought to incorporate various technological advances, he added.
Further, he said that the transition from the old criminal laws to the new criminal laws is the need of the hour which makes the criminal justice system citizen-friendly, accessible to the public and transparent.
The workshop was organised by the Press Information Bureau, Shillong in association with the Meghalaya Police.
A panel discussion was also held moderated by former News Editor of the Meghalaya Guardian and Communication Manager for the Forest Department of Assam, Ratul Barua. The panellists were Assistant Inspector General of Police, Vivek Syiem, Additional Advocate General, Khalid Khan, Editor The Shillong Times, Patricia Mukhim, R L Blah, and Anita Nongkhlaw.
The interactive session focused on the three new criminal laws and included questions from representatives of the community, students and teachers from law colleges, journalists, and media persons about the state’s readiness, including manpower to implement the amendments.
Syiem emphasised the initial training for staff and also highlighted technological advancements such as E-FIR applications, FIR status checks, and QR codes to streamline police work. Advocate Khalid Khan provided perspectives from the judiciary, while community leaders addressed challenges faced within their communities and praised the new laws for improving public access to online data and creating a more seamless experience for the general public.
