New Delhi: The three new criminal laws, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023, have come into force today, marking a significant overhaul of the country’s criminal justice system. The government has ensured that states and union territories are well-prepared for the transition, with necessary technological upgrades, capacity building, and awareness generation.
In a notable development, a street vendor in Delhi has become the first person to be booked under the new criminal law code, Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita. Pankaj Kumar, a vendor from Bihar, was selling water bottles and gutkha at the New Delhi Railway Station, obstructing the road.
Despite warnings from the police, he refused to remove his makeshift stall, leading to the filing of a First Information Report (FIR) under Section 285 of BNS.
“The sub-inspector asked several passers-by to join the probe, but they refused. Then the sub-inspector shot a video using the e-praman application.”
The new criminal laws aim to prioritize justice over punishment, focusing on speedy justice and strengthening the judicial and court management system. They incorporate contemporary provisions and technologies, including the use of technology in investigation, trial, and court proceedings.
The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) has made necessary modifications to the Crime and Criminal Tracking Networks and Systems (CCTNS) application to support the new laws.
These laws replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860, the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973, and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, and mark a significant milestone in the country’s criminal justice system.
