He was addressing a ceremony in the city on Tuesday to dedicate to the nation the successful implementation of the new laws
UT Chandigarh has become first among all states and UTs to complete the entire elaborate process of implementing the three laws; countrywide implementation to be completed within three years
Union home minister lauds Chandigarh for completing the entire modernisation and digital integration of all five pillars of the criminal justice system – police, jail, judiciary, prosecution and Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) – within a very short span of five months from the laws coming into effect on July 1, 2024
Emphasising the transformative nature of the new criminal laws, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called upon states and union territories to proactively ensure speedy and effective implementation of all aspects of these laws for a brighter future for generations of Indians and further strengthening of the country’s security and economy.
Congratulating Union territory of Chandigarh for becoming the first among all states and UTs to complete the entire process of implementing the new laws in all their manifestations, he said every citizen must be aware of his rights under these laws because their impactful implementation on the ground will determine the future of their lives, their children and their service satisfaction.
He was addressing a large gathering on the grounds of Punjab Engineering College (PEC) to dedicate the successful implementation of the three new criminal laws – Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam – to the nation in a programme titled ‘Secure Society, Developed India – From Punishment To Justice’.
The latter part of the title highlighted the shift in the emphasis of the new laws from punishing Indians during the British rule to providing equitable justice to all citizens.
Earlier Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah informed the gathering that the authorities in Chandigarh had within a very short period of five months, since these three laws came into effect across the country from July 1, 2024, completed the entire process of modernising and digitally integrating all five pillars of the criminal justice system – police, jail, judiciary, prosecution and Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL).
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He admitted that since a lot of new provisions and systems are to be incorporated, and new institutions raised under the new criminal laws, their complete implementation from a police station, to district, to state, and across the country, is expected to take another three years. But once completely implemented, he claimed, India’s criminal justice delivery system will be the most modern in the world.
Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria and member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha Satnam Singh Sadhu were also present.
The prime minister was given a live demonstration by the Chandigarh Police at a separate venue within PEC on how the laws will be implemented on the ground.
Milestone
The prime minister in his speech, while acknowledging that the implementation of the new criminal laws across the country will take time to fully mature, maintained that it will prove to be a milestone in the country’s justice delivery journey.
At the same time, he said even within the few months of its rollout, information trickling in from various parts of the country is encouraging.
Sharing specific examples to highlight the power and impact of the new criminal laws, he said in Chandigarh itself in a case of vehicle theft, judgement was delivered by the concerned court within three months and 11 days of the filing of FIR. In another case a man accused of disturbing peace in the area was promptly judged after following the due process of hearing within 20 days of filing FIR, he added.
Citing a case in Delhi, he said justice was delivered in just 60 days of filing of FIR and the accused sentenced to 20 years in prison. A murder case in Bihar’s Chapra shared by him took the cake in the speed of justice delivery. The accused were sentenced to life in prison within 14 days of FIR being lodged.
Stressing that the first benchmark of justice is its timely delivery, the prime minister said in the new laws early chargesheet and early judgement have been given top priority. Timelines have been clearly spelled out for each stage in the justice delivery process, he shared.
He called for nationwide discussion on the numerous early judgements which are being delivered ever since the new laws came into effect so that people at large realise how much their power of getting justice had increased.
Tareekh par tareekh
Resorting to a highly popular filmi dialogue, the prime minister said this would also send a strong message to the criminals that the days of “tareekh par tareekh”, which were an impediment in timely delivery of justice, and at times resulted in derailment of justice, are over.
At the same time, he further informed that while 1500 superfluous laws have been done away with in the new set of criminal laws, thousands of people languishing in jails under the previous laws have been freed.
Arguing that rules and laws remain effective only when these keep pace with the times, he asked when the world is changing fast, and so are the tactics of crime and criminals, how could a system rooted in the 19th century have remained relevant to the modern times.
Laws modernised
In this context, he informed that not only have the new laws been Indianised these have also been modernised, keeping even future parameters into account.
Among other things, the laws have made digital evidence admissible in court; to check possibility of tampering of evidence, video recording of crime scene has been made mandatory; summons can be delivered through electronic means; and audio-video of witness statements has been permitted.
All these will become basis for delivery of justice and save precious time before the culprits of crime are arrested, the prime minister informed.
He said these changes are equally important for the country’s security as the integration of digital evidence and technology will help in our fight against terrorism. Now terrorists and terrorist organisations will not be able to exploit the complexities of the law. Even the fight against corruption will get a fillip, he added.
The prime minister further said, the new criminal laws will also encourage more foreign investors, who were earlier apprehensive of getting embroiled in unending litigation thereby jeopardising their investments, to invest in the country, thereby further strengthening the Indian economy.
To watch video of entire ceremony, visit:
https://www.pmindia.gov.in/en/news_updates/pm-dedicates-to-the-nation-the-successful-implementation-of-three-new-criminal-laws/
