New Criminal Laws emphasise justice over punishment
Launches e-Sakshya, e-Summon, Nyaya Setu & Nyaya Shruti apps
New Criminal Laws mark ‘biggest reform’ of 21st Century
PM Modi’s Panch Pran vision reflected in New Criminal Justice Apps
JAMMU, Aug 04: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, launched the e-Sakshya, Nyaya Setu, Nyaya Shruti, and e-Summon apps today as part of the rollout of three new criminal laws.
In his address, Shah said that the occasion marked the implementation of the “biggest reform of the 21st century.” He highlighted that the new laws introduced by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi – Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nyaya Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) – embody the essence of Indianness and the nation’s justice ethos. “It is the responsibility of the Constitution to give justice to every person, and our criminal justice system is the means to bring this spirit of the Constitution to reality,” Shah said.
Shah criticized the outdated nature of laws enacted 150 years ago, stating, “There is a vast difference between the objectives of 1860 and today’s India.” He explained that while the societal objectives and interests have evolved, the justice system’s machinery had not kept pace. He emphasized that the Modi government’s reforms – replacing the IPC with BNS, the CrPC with BNSS, and the Evidence Act with BSA – aim to restore public trust in the justice system.
Amit Shah said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had spoken of Panch Pran from the ramparts of the Red Fort, one of which was to abolish all signs of slavery. He said that BNS, BNSS and BSA are laws made by the elected representatives of the people in the Indian Parliament and for the people of India. Shri Shah said that there is precedence to justice than punishment in the new laws, and are aimed at giving justice to the people, that is why they are not penal code but ‘Nyaya Sanhita’.
Highlighting Prime Minister Modi’s vision of the Panch Pran, Shah noted that one of the goals was to abolish all signs of slavery. He pointed out that the new laws, developed by the elected representatives in Parliament, prioritize justice over mere punishment. “That is why they are termed ‘Nyaya Sanhita’ rather than a penal code,” he explained.
Shah assured that the full implementation of these laws would position India as having the most modern and technology-enabled criminal justice system worldwide. He announced that the Ministry of Home Affairs had arranged for comprehensive training and skill development. Forensic Science Universities are operational in eight states, with plans to establish more, aiming to produce 36,000 forensic experts annually.
The new laws mandate forensic team visits for serious offenses and aim to enhance conviction rates with technical evidence. A Director of Prosecution will oversee the entire prosecution process, with a structured chain of command extending to district and tehsil levels.
“The technical capacity of our entire system will need to be increased for complete implementation,” Shah said. He described how the e-Sakshya app will store all evidence digitally, e-Summon will facilitate electronic summons, Nyaya Setu will integrate information across departments, and Nyaya Shruti will enable video conferencing for witness testimonies. These innovations are expected to streamline processes, saving time and resources.
Shah highlighted the Modi government’s initiatives, including technological upgrades in Chandigarh, where 22 IT specialists, 125 data analysts, and various new technologies have been deployed. Chandigarh is anticipated to be the first administrative unit to achieve 100% implementation of the New criminal laws.
“Those who imbibe the teachings of Swami Vivekananda, from ‘self’ to ‘selflessness’, are the real wisemen, and our cyber-soldiers have worked to realise it,” Shah added.
Addressing the issue of drug addiction, Shah emphasized that the campaign against it is a broader societal effort, aiming to remove stigma and spread awareness. He said that by removing the stigma of those who are in the grip of drugs and their families, we should treat this disease and spread awareness about it.
Amit Shah said that through these three new laws, India’s criminal justice system is witnessing the biggest reform of the 21st century. He said that technology has been included in these laws in such a way that it will cater to the requirements of the next 50 years. Shah said that citizen-centric laws have been made according to the spirit of our Constitution and after their full implementation, it will be possible to get judgement up to Supreme Court within three years.
Union Home Minister said that citizens have as much responsibility to bring awareness about these laws as the Ministry of Home Affairs, state governments or judges. The Home Minister requested the people of Chandigarh to seek official clarification from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India or the Chandigarh Administration on the misconceptions being spread about these laws. He appealed to everyone to stay away from rumours and make active and constructive contributions towards the implementation of these laws.
