INDIAN NEW CRIMINAL LAWS IN FORCE

 

New three criminal laws came into force in India on 1st July 2024 00:00 hours

The IPC and Cr.PC will run concurrently along with the new laws as several cases are still pending in courts and some crimes that took place before July 1st 2024.

The three criminal laws as follows

1. THE BHARATIYA NAGRIK SURAKSHA SANHITA (BNSS)

The BNSS replaces the Code of Criminal Procedure (Cr.PC). The BNSS prescribes the Procedure and conditions for arrest, bail and custody among other things.

2. THE BHARATIYA NAYAYA SANHITA (BNS)

BNS replaces the Indian Penal Code (IPC) of 1860. The bns may also be amended soon to incorporate a section on sexual crimes against men and transgender presons.

3. THE BHARATIYA SAKSHYA (BS)

The BS replaces the Indian Evidence Act 1872

There are more than 650 district courts and 16,000 police stations across the county they have to migrate to the new system. 

Cognisable offences will be registered under section 173 of the BNSS instead of section 154 of the Cr.PC. 

• Provisions for Zero FIR allowing filing of a First Information Report (FIR) at any police station regardless of jurisdiction.
• Online registration of police complaints and mandatory videography of crime scenes for all heinous crimes.
• A person can now report incidents by electronic communication, without the need to visit a police station.
• Judgment in criminal cases has to come within 45 days of completion of the trial.
• Provisions against false-promise of marriage, gang rape of minors and mob lynching.
• Statement of a women rape victim will be recorded by a women officer in the presence of her guardian or relative.
• Death sentence or life imprisonment foe gang rape of a minor.
• Sedition has been replaced with 'Secession' or act against the country's Sovereignty, Unity and Integrity.

First Information Report (FIR) are filed through the CRIME AND CRIMINAL TRACKING NETWORK SYSTEM (CCTNS) a programme that functions under the National Crime Records Bureau. A significant upgrade to the CCTNS will help people file an e-FIR, without visiting a police station and a Zero-FIR, which can be filed irrespective of the crime jurisdiction.

• Changes have been made to the CCTNS software to register FIR's in languages other than English and Hindi.

The BNSS mandates compulsory audio-video recording of search and sezure in each criminal case where an offence attracts punishment of seven years or more. The recordings will have to be submitted before the court electronically "without delay".

All the data related to these criminal laws were secured by the e-Sakshya platform where the data will be stored is being hosted by National Informatics Centre.