On July 1, 2024 three new criminal laws have come into effect in India. The three New Criminals are Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita,2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023. This law made big changes to India’s criminal justice system and ended old colonial laws.
The new Act will replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860, The Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973 and the Inian Evidence Act, 1872 respectively.
The three new laws emphasize justice rather than punishment. The new three criminal law will deliver quick justice while also strengthening the court system by guaranteeing that everyone has access to justice.
This three new law introduced by the center on August 11, 2023.
What are the changes under Three new criminal laws?
The Three new Criminal Law aims to modernise Indian’s Criminal justice system by
- Zero FIR: Allow people to file FIR in any Police Station, the police in such case can no longer claim that they have no jurisdiction.
- To stop the police from misusing arrest powers, the BNSS requires the state government to appoint a police officer to keep records of all arrests and who made them. This information must be clearly displayed in every police station and district headquarters.
- The BNS introduces a new way to report crimes against women using electronic First Information Reports (e-FIRs). This allows quick reporting of urgent offences.
- Online registration to file complain.
- Under the new laws, judgments in criminal cases must given within 45 days after the trial ends, and charges must framed within 60 days of the first hearing.
- Sensitive or Rape Case against woman and children, including recording statement by a female police in the presence of guardian or relative. The medical report have to come with 7 days.
- Summons can be served electronically for speeding up legal process, reducing paperwork and ensuring efficient communication among all parties
- To prevent evidence manipulation, the BNSS now requires audio-video recording of search and seizure proceedings. This is an important new measure.
- For the first time, terrorism defined to include the “economic security of the country.