'Affordable, accessible and approachable': Amit Shah unveils new criminal laws; a major reform for justice in India
NEW DELHI: Stating that the new criminal laws shall be regarded as the biggest reform since Independence, home minister
Amit Shah
on Tuesday said they will shift the people's mindset from 'what will happen if I file an FIR' to a strong belief that 'filing an FIR will lead to prompt justice'.
Addressing the programme 'A Golden Year of Trust in the Justice System' here to mark the successful completion of one year of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), Shah said new laws introduced by the Narendra Modi will not only make the judicial process 'affordable, accessible and approachable' but also 'simple, consistent and transparent'.
'There can be no greater reform than making the justice system - which protects the rights of the people - transparent, citizen-centric, and time-bound,' Shah said during the event also attended by Delhi LG V K Saxena and chief minister Rekha Gupta.
The home minister said the new criminal laws will be fully implemented across the country in nearly three years, while sharing that 23 states and Union territories have already completed 100% capacity building.
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He complimented Delhi for doing the best, among all states/UTs, to implement the laws expeditiously.
Shah, who until now has taken 160 meetings on the new laws, shared that notifications have already been issued for e-Sakshya (electronic evidence) and e-Summons (electronic summons) in 11 states and Union territories (UTs). Nyaya Shruti (electronic court records) has been notified in six states/UTs, and community service as punishment in a dozen states/UTs, he added.
In the past year, nearly 14.8 lakh police personnel, 42,000 prison staff, over 19,000 judicial officers, and more than 11,000 public prosecutors were trained in provisions of the new laws.
'A golden era of governance based on social, economic, and political justice is about to begin,' Shah said and added that 'after the full implementation of these laws, justice in the country will be delivered all the way up to the Supreme Court starting from filing of the FIR, within three years.
He explained that BNS, BNSS and BSA lay down strict timelines for the three key pillars responsible for delivering justice to citizens—the police, prosecution, and judiciary.
Mentioning the smart use of technology for accurate and speedy criminal justice, the home minister expressed confidence that offenders will be left with no opportunity to escape punishment by availing the benefit of doubt. He said this will raise the conviction rate and make the Indian criminal justice system one of the most modern in the world.
Shah said that while the purpose of the old laws was to extend British rule and protect their property, the new laws are focused on protecting the life, property, and all constitutionally guaranteed rights of Indian citizens, with the goal being justice and not punishment.
The home minister said the new laws add a separate chapter on crimes against children and women. For the first time, terrorism and organised crime have been defined and provision made for stringent punishment, he underlined.
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