“Laws prioritising justice over punishment implemented nationwide, a historic for our country”: Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai

Raipur, 01 July 2024- Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai released a booklet detailing the new criminal laws prepared by the Home Department at the Chief Minister’s residential office on July 1, 2024. He stated, “July 1, 2024, marks a historic day for our country. Central Government has implemented these three new criminal laws nationwide today, replacing those enacted by the British 150 years ago. This change reflects the strong will of our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Union Minister of Home Affairs Shri Amit Shah.”

Chief Minister Shri Sai praised the officials of the Home Department, stating, “You all have made excellent efforts in terms of awareness and training. These laws have been replaced by old laws to provide justice to all citizens. Officials should ensure their effective implementation in the state.” He mentioned that the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023, and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023, have prioritised justice over punishment. These laws will prove to be a significant step towards fulfilling the Indian government’s guarantee of justice and security.

It is noteworthy that police personnel have initiated awareness programs to disseminate information about these laws across the state, as directed by Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai and Deputy Chief Minister Shri Vijay Sharma.

Additional Chief Secretary Shri Manoj Pingua and DGP Shri Ashok Juneja shared updates on the efforts to better implement the new laws at the state level. They emphasised the need for interdepartmental coordination, thorough investigation, and decisive action to achieve the objective of delivering justice. The officials reported that the police stations have registered two FIRs and one death case under the new laws. They highlighted the importance of coordination between various departments to ensure the effective implementation of these new laws.

The newly implemented laws include provisions that prioritise women’s safety and justice, address terrorism and organised crime, and protect India’s sovereignty, unity, and integrity. These reforms also introduce victim-centric legal measures, incorporate scientific techniques in investigations, and update regulations for digital and electronic evidence. Additionally, they revise court procedures to enhance efficiency and fairness. The new legislation, i.e., the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023; the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023; and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023, replace the earlier criminal laws, namely, the Indian Penal Code 1860, the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872. These new criminal laws came into effect from July 1, 2024.

Chief Minister’s Secretaries, Shri Rahul Bhagat and Shri Basavaraju S., along with other officials from the Home Department, were present.