Amit Shah Calls New Criminal Laws India’s Biggest Justice Reform Since Independence

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Tuesday (1 July) that the three new criminal laws represent the biggest reform in India's justice system since Independence, reported The Hindu.

He emphasised that the laws enforce strict timelines on the police, prosecution, and judiciary—the three crucial pillars delivering justice to citizens.

Shah was speaking at “A Golden Year of Trust in the Justice System” programme in New Delhi, which marked one year of these new laws' implementation.

He said whenever the three laws are analysed, they would come to be regarded as the biggest reform since Independence as there is no greater reform than making the justice system — which defends the rights of the people — transparent, citizen-centric, and time-bound.

The Home Minister highlighted that the new laws incorporate technology-based provisions, which, once fully implemented, will significantly improve the country's conviction rate by preventing offenders from escaping punishment.

He said that in the past year, authorities have trained approximately 14.8 lakh policemen, 42,000 jail employees, over 19,000 judicial officers, and more than 11,000 public prosecutors in the new laws.

Notifications for e-evidence and e-summons have gone out in 11 States and Union Territories, while Nyay Shruti is active in 6, and community service as punishment in 12.

The Minister asserted, the new laws will shift the mindset from “what will happen if I file an FIR to a strong belief that filing an FIR will lead to prompt justice.”

From 1 July, 2024, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) replaced the Indian Penal Code, 1860; the Bharatiya Sakshya (BS) replaced the Indian Evidence Act, 1872; and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) replaced the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898.

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