Union Home Minister Amit Shah has asserted that India’s criminal justice system is undergoing a significant transformation with the implementation of the three new criminal laws, aimed at ensuring faster, technology-driven and citizen-centric justice.
Addressing a conference of cattle rearers in Bhopal on Saturday, Shah said that once the new legal framework is fully implemented, the entire judicial process—from registration of an FIR to the Supreme Court—would be completed within three years.
Shah made the remarks after inaugurating an exhibition on the new criminal laws at Dussehra Ground in the BHEL area of Bhopal.
‘Tareekh Pe Tareekh’ Era Will End With New Legal Framework
The Home Minister said India’s judicial system had for years been criticised for prolonged litigation and repeated adjournments. He said the new criminal laws were designed to address delays by integrating technology, forensic science and modern investigation techniques into the justice delivery system.
He said the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) were intended to establish a modern criminal justice mechanism suited to the needs of the country.
The three laws came into effect across India on July 1, 2024, replacing the Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure and Indian Evidence Act.
According to Shah, the new framework gives greater emphasis to forensic investigation, digital technology, women’s safety, terrorism, mob lynching, missing children and protection of citizens.
He said the earlier criminal laws introduced during British rule were primarily designed to safeguard colonial interests, while the new laws were framed around protecting the dignity, property and physical security of Indian citizens.
‘Justice, Not Punishment, Is Core Objective’
Shah said the central philosophy of the new criminal laws was to ensure justice rather than merely impose punishment.
He maintained that punishment was necessary mainly as a deterrent against crime, while the ultimate objective of the justice system should remain the protection of citizens and delivery of justice within a reasonable timeframe.
