
How Haryana leads the way in implementing new criminal laws
India has a long and proud tradition of justice delivery, with roots stretching back to ancient epics and empires. From the legal frameworks outlined in the Mahabharata to the administrative systems of the Mauryan period, the Indian ethos has long been built around fairness, order, and the protection of rights. Today, as India undertakes one of its most significant legal overhauls since independence, Haryana—land of the Mahabharata—has once again taken the lead in shaping the next chapter of Indian jurisprudence.
With the nationwide enforcement of three transformative criminal laws—the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA)—from July 1, 2024, Haryana has emerged as the national frontrunner in comprehensive, on-ground implementation. These laws replace the colonial-era Indian Penal Code (IPC), Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and Indian Evidence Act, ushering in a justice system that is not only modern and egalitarian but also steeped in Bharatiya values.
Under the decisive leadership of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Haryana began early and acted decisively. A full-fledged transition plan was developed across all districts, combining administrative foresight with technological readiness. The state's proactive approach included:
– Massive training programmes for police, prosecutors, and judicial officers
– Workshops at the district level in partnership with academic institutions
– Deployment of eSign tools, Aadhaar-authenticated workflows, and real-time crime documentation systems
This robust preparedness ensured that Haryana was not just compliant with the new laws but ready to operationalize them in spirit and substance.
The new criminal laws are designed to enable speedy, scientific, and tech-enabled justice delivery. Haryana has translated these principles into action through multiple pioneering initiatives:
– Mandatory day-to-day hearings under Section 346 of BNSS
– Introduction of 'block dates' to minimize adjournments in serious cases
– Auto-FIR registration in vehicle thefts and Aadhaar-verified witness statements
– Widespread use of video conferencing, with over 78% of undertrial peshis (court appearances) now held virtually
– Creation of 2,117 designated spaces across districts for witness examination via electronic means—including government offices, banks, and special rooms for women and vulnerable witnesses
Such measures have not only improved efficiency but also enhanced access to justice—especially for victims, witnesses, and marginalized groups.
Haryana has also led the way in forensic and medico-legal modernization:
– MedLEaPR (Medical Legal Examination and Post Mortem Reporting) has been used statewide for over a decade and is now being emulated by other states. Integrated with CCTNS, it ensures electronic submission of medico-legal reports within seven days, enabling over 90% of cases to be resolved within a week.
– The TraKea Forensic Case Management System, now fully operational, streamlines evidence handling and ensures accountability and transparency in forensics.
At the heart of this new legal regime is a commitment to victim-centric justice. Haryana's Witness Protection Scheme, 2025, notified in February this year, offers a graded protection system based on real-time threat perception:
– Categorization of witnesses into A, B, and C levels
– Measures such as no face-to-face encounters with the accused, relocation, identity changes, and monitoring of communications
This framework ensures that victims and witnesses are shielded from intimidation and can participate in the legal process without fear.
Haryana has prioritized gender-sensitive justice through:
– Fast Track Special Courts under the POCSO Act in Gurugram, Faridabad, and Panchkula
– Specialized police training and outreach campaigns to support victims
– Aggressive monitoring under the Chinhit Apradh initiative, under which 1,683 heinous crimes have been fast-tracked
Conviction rates have climbed in response, with some districts like Faridabad, Dabwali, and Karnal recording over 95% conviction in Chinhit Apradh cases.
As of April 30, 2025, 1,764 cases have been decided under the BNS, with a conviction rate of 77.15%. From July 1, 2024, to May 31, 2025, 2,038 cases were completed, resulting in 1,540 convictions. Districts like Kurukshetra (75%), Sirsa (78.57%), and Rewari (85%) are also setting benchmarks.
The BNS and BNSS have introduced crucial timelines, including time-bound framing of charges, addressing the long-standing issue of delayed trials. This is already showing visible results. A rape and murder trial of a minor girl concluded in 140 days in Yamunanagar, resulting in a death sentence—with the victim's father publicly thanking the justice system for swift redress
New powers, new accountability
Under Section 356 of the BNSS, courts can now conduct trials in absentia, allowing them to proceed against proclaimed offenders. Haryana has already identified 193 such cases, and four have been tried under the new provision. The Directorate of Prosecution, now statutorily empowered to monitor these cases under Section 20(7) of BNSS, ensures rigorous oversight.
Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and through Haryana's on-ground execution, India's legal system is undergoing a transformation that is transparent, time-bound, and tech-forward. With its deep commitment to victim rights, judicial efficiency, and digital innovation, Haryana is not only implementing the BNS-BNSS-BSA triad effectively but is also providing a blueprint for other states.
As the nation marches towards Viksit Bharat 2047, Haryana's journey stands as a testament to what visionary governance and resolute execution can achieve. In this new era of justice, the state's leadership ensures that laws are not just written on paper but come alive in courtrooms, police stations, and citizens' lives—delivering the Nyaya India has long awaited.
(The author is Additional Chief Secretary, Home, Jails, Criminal Investigation & Administration of Justice Departments, Government of Haryana)
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


India.com
21 minutes ago
- India.com
Modi Is The Moment: UK's Indian Diaspora Sees PM As Bridge To Global Power
London: London buzzed with anticipation as members of the Indian diaspora gathered to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Enthusiasm met him at every turn. They spoke with warmth. Gehna Gautam recalled the moment. 'I just met the PM. He walked past us. It was a surreal moment. I got to shake his hand. He is so dynamic. It was an amazing experience. The enthusiasm and energy of the people around here is on another level,' she said. Sanjay shared a similar excitement. 'I am very happy to meet PM Modi. He has come here for a very important job. We wish him and Bharat good luck. He is doing a great job,' he said. Bhavya called it unforgettable. 'The prime minister shook my hand and gave me 'Ashirwad' (blessing). It was the best feeling ever,' she said. Shivani felt truly blessed, 'We shook hands twice and he also blessed me on my head. It is my pleasure to meet him. We are very blessed to have him over here. We are really very happy today.' From the Dawoodi Bohra community, voices expressed pride too. 'As Dawoodi Bohras, we are very proud of the relationship that the prime minister has with our community. He has been a friend of our community for many years. And as a proud Dawoodi Bohra and as a British citizen, we welcome him to the United Kingdom and look forward to meeting him.' Another Bohra added, 'I am very excited. This is my first time personally meeting PM Modi. He is a great friend to the Dawoodi Bohra community. It will always be a pleasure to meet him. We welcome him and we hope that one day he will visit us at our mosque in the UK as well.' Preena, a diaspora leader, said, 'I am so excited to see PM Modi. My family and I are huge fans of PM Modi. He has done so much for India's progress. He made India a Vishwaguru. He made India very powerful on the world stage.' Modi landed in London for a two-day visit beginning Wednesday. His agenda includes talks toward a Free Trade Agreement. In a departure statement, he said that India and the United Kingdom share a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. He listed the scope – trade, investment, technology, innovation, defence, education, research, sustainability, health and people-to-people ties. Modi will meet UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and also pay respects to King Charles III. The aim is to spur economic growth, create jobs and raise trade to USD 120 billion by 2030. This marks Modi's fourth voyage to the United Kingdom since 2015. His previous visits came in 2015, 2018 and 2021 for COP26 in Glasgow. He and Starmer met twice recently at the G20 in Rio and the G7 in Kananaskis. India-UK ties saw an upgrade in 2021 when they adopted Comprehensive Strategic Partnership status. High-level visits followed. Both nations signaled firm commitments to deepen cooperation. Next on Modi's journey is Maldives.


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Woman falls for ‘national duty' appeal, loses Rs 1.5 crore to fraud
Noida: Cyber criminals allegedly cheated a 75-year-old woman of Rs 1.5 crore after appealing to her in the name of "national duty" to help them implicate an Indian airline's founder in a money laundering case. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Police said the woman, a resident of NTPC Society Anandam in the city, approached them at the Cyber Crime station last week. She said that on July 8, she received a video call from an unknown number. She accepted the call, and a man named Bal Singh Rajput, or Rajveer, claimed he was an associate of her son. According to the woman's complaint, Rajveer told her that she could help the nation by working with them in a case against Naresh Goyal, the founder of the now-defunct airline Jet Airways. Rajveer allegedly told the woman she could transfer money to implicate Goyal, who – he said – was being investigated in a "money laundering case" and was "involved in organ trafficking". The woman said Rajveer "promised in the name of God" that the money she transfers will be returned to her within 24 hours. Over the next 15 days, the woman said in the complaint, cyber criminals made her stay connected to them on video call. To scare her, they also showed fake arrest warrants and orders to freeze assets in her name made by the "Enforcement Directorate's Delhi zone", she said. The woman ended up making three transfers of Rs 50 lakh each in that time frame, police told TOI. After the amount was transferred, cops said on Wednesday, cybercriminals cut off all contact and stopped picking up the woman's calls. She then realised she was cheated and filed a complaint. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now A police officer said an FIR was registered against unknown accused under BNS sections 319(2) (cheating by personation), 308(2) (extortion), 336(3) (forgery) and 318(4) (cheating), and provisions of the IT Act. "We are tracking down the monetary trail to nab the accused," the police officer said.


Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Learn from Ram's exile, recite Ramcharitmanas: MP Police to homesick recruits
Amid a surge in requests from police recruits to shift them to training centres closer home, the Madhya Pradesh Police plans to start Ramcharitmanas sessions every evening, in the hope that Lord Ram's 14-year exile can offer a lesson or two. The new batch of recruits began their training this week in eight police training schools (PTS) across the state. Officials said they will be asked to recite at least two chapters of Ramcharitmanas daily before sleeping to stave off homesickness. ADG (training) Raja Babu Singh told The Indian Express, 'I have been receiving applications from new recruits asking for a change of their PTS closer to home. But this mindset is counterproductive. If officers are trained only near their homes, how will they ever adapt to postings in challenging regions like those affected by Naxal insurgency?' Drawing parallels with Lord Ram's exile, Singh apprised senior officers that the idea of staying away from home is not new to Indian tradition. 'Lord Ram did not return to Ayodhya for 14 years. During that time, he learned to live in the forest, built an army, and overcame hardship. If we want to teach our recruits lessons, they will have to be from our local culture, which they can relate to,' he said. According to the MP police, 300 fresh recruits have applied for transfer to a PTS near their home district. Senior officials said that if even a few are allowed, 'the floodgates for the transfer will open up'. Currently, 4,000 recruits are set to undergo the nine-month basic course training. The Ramcharitmanas sessions will be conducted by the head of the barracks every evening. This is not the first time Rajababu Singh has drawn on spiritual and cultural traditions in policing. Known for his earlier 'Gita Gyan' awareness campaign while serving as ADG of Gwalior zone, Singh had distributed copies in jails during Dussehra. The MP police have also moved to promote regional identity and pride, with every PTS required to introduce local folk martial arts and dances. 'There are also training schools where martial arts like Kalaripayattu are taught; we are going to make a list of all Indian martial arts forms and teach them to the recruits,' Singh said. Commando drills such as frog jumps, monkey walks, duck walks, and inchworm walks have also been integrated to simulate combat readiness using the body's natural movement, officials said.