Press Information Bureau, Mumbai Regional Office, organizes Vartalap- Media Workshop on new criminal laws

Mumbai, 4 July 2024

The New Criminal Laws, 2023, i.e., Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023, came into force from 1^st July, 2024. The Press Information Bureau, Mumbai Regional Office, organized a Vartalap – Media Workshop on the new criminal laws, here today.

The keynote speaker Dr. Kakasaheb Dole, Deputy Director, Maharashtra Police Academy, stated that the new criminal laws are intended to overhaul the colonial era Indian Penal Code and establish a justice-oriented system based on Indian thinking and spirit of Indian constitution. He said that these laws focus on justice rather than punishment and are to ensure “victim centric justice”

Citizen-centric laws:

Explaining the citizen-centric, technology-driven changes in the legal and justice system, Dr. Kakasaheb Dole said, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita gives citizen right to file an FIR through oral or by electronic communication (e-FIR) also, irrespective of the area where the offence or crime is committed, a citizen can file FIR . Also, the citizens are entitled to get a free copy of the FIR from the police under Section 173 (2) (1) BNSS. The police are also mandated to inform the victim on the progress of the investigation within 90 days under Section 193 (3) (ii) BNSS. He said that now citizens can appear as an accused, victim or witness through audio-video conferencing for the purposes of examination”.

He further said forensics have been made mandatory in cases with a penalty of 7 years or more, videography must be done of the entire police search process.

The key features of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 include: enhanced use of technology in investigation, streamlining of victim protection and FIR processes, introduction of zero FIR and e-FIR provisions, permitting of audio video recording of victim statement.

Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 key features include: electronic/digital records as primary evidence, provides framework for digital evidence authenticity, expanded definition of documents, admissibility of electronic records acceptable in court.

New Criminal laws include 37 sections addressing crime against women and children. Dr. Dole added that rape victims can now record e-statement online and they need not neccesarily visit police stations.

Timely and Speedy Justice: Timeline has been added in 45 sections of BNSS.

Abhineet Pange, a practicing criminal lawyer of Bombay High Court, who also participated in the media workshop informed that community service for petty crimes is an important aspect of the new laws.

About 30 mediapersons from various print, electronic and digital media organizations participated in the media workshop. The Additional Director General, PIB Western Region, Ms Smita Vats Sharma, in her welcome address informed that, as part of the massive training exercise being undertaken all over the country, against a target of 12000 Master Trainers to train about 22.5 lakh policemen on new laws, more than 23 thousand Master Trainers have been trained with the help of authorized institutions. 21,000 subordinate judiciary officials have been trained in the judiciary and 20 thousand public prosecutors have been trained on the provisions of the three laws throughout the country. The vote of thanks was delivered by the Joint Director, Press Information Bureau, Shri Sayyid Rabeehashmi.