Today, On 26th June, President Droupadi Murmu stated that the focus will be on justice rather than punishment with the introduction of new criminal laws. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023 are expected to expedite the judicial process. These reforms aim to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the legal system.
New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu stated on Thursday that the three new criminal laws, set to be implemented from July 1, designed to prioritize justice over punishment, contrasting with the punitive mindset prevalent during the British era.
Speaking at the first joint session of Parliament following the establishment of the 18th Lok Sabha, she emphasized that the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023 will expedite judicial proceedings.
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These laws, passed last year, will replace the outdated Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, and the Indian Evidence Act, which originated during British rule.
President Droupadi Murmu announced,
“The Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita will be implemented nationwide from July 1,”
She added,
“During the British era, the focus was on punishing the subjects. Sadly, the colonial penal system persisted for many decades post-Independence.”
The president highlighted that while the need to reform criminal laws had been discussed for years, it is this government that has had the courage to make it a reality.
She stated,
“Now, justice will be prioritized over punishment, aligning with the spirit of our Constitution,”
She further remarked that as the nation sheds its colonial mindset in various areas, this reform is a significant move in that direction, calling it “a true tribute to our freedom fighters.”
Last year, Union Home Minister Amit Shah noted in Parliament that the new laws would emphasize providing justice, replacing the British-era laws that prioritized punitive measures.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated,
“These three Bills are crafted by Indians, for Indians, and by an Indian Parliament, signifying the end of colonial criminal justice laws in India,”
He emphasized that the changes are not merely superficial but represent a comprehensive overhaul of existing laws.
He added,
“The soul, body, and spirit of the new laws are inherently Indian,”
Shah explained that justice encompasses both the victim and the accused, and these new laws will ensure political, economic, and social justice grounded in Indian values.
Key features of the three new criminal laws include Zero FIR, online registration of police complaints, electronic summons, and mandatory videography of crime scenes for all serious offenses.
The Union Home Ministry preparing to implement the three new criminal laws from next week, with 4 million grassroots functionaries trained to educate the public about the legislations and their impacts, particularly on women and children, according to official sources on Wednesday.
Additionally, over 565,000 police, prison, forensic, judicial, and prosecution officials have been trained on the new laws.