India’s new criminal laws mark the beginning of a new era of affordable, accessible, and transparent justice, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Tuesday, addressing a gathering in the capital to celebrate “A Golden Year of Trust in the Justice System.”
Lieutenant Governor of Delhi V.K. Saxena, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, and Director of the Intelligence Bureau were among the dignitaries present at the event.
An exhibition on the new criminal laws was also inaugurated on the occasion. Shah noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier directed that this exhibition be organized across all states so that journalists, senior police officers, bar associations, judicial officers, and especially students could understand the new legal framework.
Speaking at the event, Shah said the three new criminal laws—Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) 2023—are designed to make justice more citizen-centric. He said the new laws would replace the colonial-era Indian Penal Code (IPC), Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and Indian Evidence Act with modern legislation created from an Indian perspective.
“The old laws were made by the British Parliament to prolong their rule. The new laws have been framed under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, by a government elected by the people, for the welfare of the people,” Shah said.
The Home Minister underlined that the new laws are aimed at ensuring timely delivery of justice, with strict timelines prescribed for investigation, charge-sheeting, framing of charges, and delivery of judgments. “Earlier, no one knew when justice would be delivered. Now, the system is being overhauled to guarantee time-bound justice, from the FIR stage to the Supreme Court,” he added.
Shah said the laws incorporate technology-driven measures, inspired by the study of judicial systems in nearly 89 countries, to strengthen investigation and trial processes. Forensic examination is now mandatory for crimes carrying a punishment of seven years or more. Systems like the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS) and DNA matching in POCSO cases have also been put in place to ensure offenders do not escape conviction.
Highlighting the government’s preparedness, Shah said nearly 15 lakh police personnel, over 19,000 judicial officers, more than 42,000 prison staff, and over 11,000 public prosecutors have been trained in the past year. Delhi was acknowledged as the best-performing state in implementing the new laws swiftly.
The Home Minister said that a separate chapter on crimes against women and children has been included for the first time. The laws now define terrorism and organised crime, with stricter provisions for punishment. A new post of Director of Prosecution has also been created to strengthen the prosecution system and raise the conviction rate.
Shah added that the successful implementation of the new criminal justice system will depend not only on the police or the Home Ministry, but also on public awareness and understanding of their rights. He described the reforms as the biggest since Independence, calling them a “golden opportunity” for India’s Nyay Yatra towards a transparent, citizen-centric, and time-bound system of justice.