Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, today addressed the programme “A Golden Year of Trust in the Justice System” held in New Delhi to mark the successful completion of one year of the new criminal laws, as the chief guest. On this occasion, several dignitaries including the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Shri V.K. Saxena, Chief Minister Smt. Rekha Gupta, the Union Home Secretary, and the Director of the Intelligence Bureau were present.

Shri Amit Shah said that an exhibition on the new criminal laws was also inaugurated today. He mentioned that when this exhibition was earlier held in Chandigarh, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had instructed the Union Home Secretary, Shri Govind Mohan, to organize this exhibition in every state across the country. The aim was to ensure that journalists, senior police officers, members of bar associations, all judicial officers, and especially school and college students could view it and learn about the new criminal laws. Shri Shah congratulated the Union Home Secretary and his entire team for organizing this important exhibition.

Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah said that the three new criminal laws introduced under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will be affordable, accessible, and approachable, while also making the judicial process simpler, more consistent, and transparent. He said that under PM Modi’s leadership, a golden era of governance based on social, economic, and political justice is about to begin. He further said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, in the coming days, our criminal justice system will enter a new era, which will definitely instill a strong sense of trust among the people that justice will be delivered promptly. He said that the new laws will replace the fear of ‘What will happen if I file an FIR’ with the confidence that ‘Filing an FIR will lead to immediate justice.’

Shri Amit Shah said that the new criminal laws will fundamentally transform the Indian criminal justice system in the coming days. He stated that earlier, the biggest problem with our justice system was that no one knew when justice would be delivered. The Home Minister said that after the full implementation of these laws in nearly three years, justice in the country will be delivered all the way up to the Supreme Court starting from filing of the FIR. He explained that these laws impose strict timelines on the three key pillars responsible for delivering justice to citizens—the police, prosecution, and judiciary. Shri Shah added that the new laws specify deadlines for completing investigations within 90 days, filing charge sheets, framing charges, and delivering judgments.

Union Home Minister said that the new laws also include several technology-based provisions which, once implemented, will leave no opportunity for offenders to escape punishment by availing the benefit of doubt. He said that after the new criminal justice system is fully implemented, the conviction rate in our country will improve significantly, and criminals will definitely be punished. Shri Shah said that after the full implementation of all three new laws, with the use of technology, our justice system will become the most modern justice system in the world.

Shri Amit Shah said that after studying the justice systems of nearly 89 countries and legally incorporating the use of technology from them, these provisions have been included in the new laws. The Modi government has created these laws from an Indian perspective. He stated that the previous laws were made by the British in the Parliament of England to prolong their rule, whereas the new criminal laws have been made under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi by a government elected by the people of India, for the benefit of Indian citizens. The Home Minister said that the purpose of the old laws was to extend British rule and protect their property, while the purpose of the new laws is to protect the life, property, and all constitutionally guaranteed rights of Indian citizens.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that now with the replacement of IPC with Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita 2023 (BNS), CRPC with Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023 (BNSS) and Indian Evidence Act with Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023 (BSA), it shows that the goal of these laws is not punishment but justice. He said that this is going to be a golden opportunity for India's Nyay Yatra. Now the change is not on paper as crores of rupees have been spent by the Government of India and state governments on the incorporation of technology in these laws. Shri Shah said that we have made forensic examination mandatory in every crime attracting a punishment of 7 years or more and now National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS) is also being used in a very good way. Similarly, in the case of POCSO, DNA matching will not let any perpetrator to escape conviction.

Shri Amit Shah said that in the last one year, about 14 lakh 80 thousand policemen, 42 thousand employees posted at jails, more than 19 thousand judicial officers and more than 11 thousand public prosecutors have been trained. He said that we have held continuous review meetings in the last one year and 23 states and union territories have completed 100 per cent capacity building. Notification of e-evidence and e-summons has been issued in 11 states and union territories, Nyay Shruti has been notified in 6 states and union territories and community service as punishment has been notified in 12 states and union territories. He said that among all the states and union territories, Delhi government has done the best in implementing these laws quickly.

Union Home Minister said that in the implementation of the new laws, small loopholes have been filled by conducting intensive consultations and a lot of work has been done with a multi stakeholder approach. Shri Shah said that he himself held 160 meetings on these laws. He said that in 2019 we had sought suggestions from all the Governors, Lieutenant Governors, Chief Ministers, Administrators, Chief Justices, Bar Council and Law Universities and BPR&D also sought suggestions from all IPS officers. He said that after this, a committee was formed and these laws were implemented by reading each section and considering all the suggestions.

Shri Amit Shah said that a separate chapter has been added in these laws on crimes against children and women. For the first time, terrorism has been defined and organised crime has also been defined and provision for stringent punishment has been made. He said that a provision for Director of Prosecution has also been made in the new laws which will greatly increase the conviction rate.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that the police and the Home Ministry alone cannot do all this. For the successful and effective implementation of the new laws, awareness and the public's knowledge of their rights is very important. Shri Shah said that whenever these laws are analyzed, they will be regarded as the biggest reform since Independence, because there can be no greater reform than making the justice system — which protects the rights of the people — transparent, citizen-centric, and time-bound.

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