How new criminal laws are transforming policing

For more than 150 years, India’s criminal justice system operated under colonial laws designed for governance, not democracy. The Indian Penal Code of 1860, the Code of Criminal Procedure from 1898, and the Indian Evidence Act of 1872 endured for decades after Independence. On July 1, 2024, India took a robust decision to replace colonial laws with the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS, the new criminal code), Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS, the new criminal procedure code), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA, the new evidence law)-arguably the most sweeping reform of criminal law in independent India. As Director General of Police, Haryana, I have witnessed this dramatic change not just as an administrator but as a practitioner-standing alongside my team on the front lines. Haryana now leads in rolling out new criminal laws (NCL), and I saw every step of this transition up close. We retrained investigators, redesigned workflows, and embraced emerging technology. The learning curve was steep, but reform was essential. Think about this: when IPC 420 became BNS 318, and IPC 302 became BNS 101, investigators-many with limited education and formal training-had to unlearn decades-old procedures and master entirely new sections almost overnight. To understand the magnitude of this transformation, it is important to consider India’s longstanding challenges:

Replacing endless delay with accountability: India’s biggest criminal justice problem is delay. More than 5.58 crore cases are pending; only 21,285 judges have to handle them. Justice can move at a crawl. Public trust erodes. A famous Hindi movie dialogue-’Tarikh pe Tarikh ’-is not merely cinematic exaggeration. It’s more like a documentary description. BNSS directly reduces delays by setting enforceable timelines. Investigators must finish probes into sexual offences against women within two months, and judges must deliver verdicts within set periods after arguments. The law restricts adjournments, and if investigations lag, statutory bail gives the accused automatic rights after set deadlines. Technology strengthens these new timelines. Digital evidence platforms like e-Sakshya, an electronic management system, create time-stamped, geo-tagged crime scene records. Evidence integrity is secured. Justice becomes accountable to the clock.

Addressing the undertrial crisis: Picture waiting in jail for years without conviction. That’s reality for nearly 76 per cent of India’s prisoners: undertrials hoping for justice, yet stuck in limbo. The new framework brings time-bound investigations. Default bail comes into play if deadlines are missed. Video conferencing for remand proceedings has become common. Release must be considered after an undertrial serves a set portion of the maximum sentence. These measures uphold the essence of liberty.

From witness testimony to scientific evidence: Imagine testifying in court, knowing your memory or safety could sway the outcome. In the past, heavy reliance on oral testimony left cases vulnerable-witnesses sometimes turned hostile or were intimidated. The new laws lift forensic and electronic evidence to a higher standard. Forensic investigations are now mandatory for serious offences. Digital records are more broadly admissible. Scientific investigation methods receive more reliance. Memory matters less. The evidentiary foundation grows stronger. In Haryana, mobile forensic teams get to crime scenes directly. SOC experts lift evidence independently. Fingerprints, DNA, digital footprints, and other traces are preserved before they deteriorate. The evidentiary chain is stronger. The truth has a better chance in court.

Recognising the crimes of the twenty-first century: Colonial codes never anticipated cybercrime, organised syndicates, or digital financial networks. Nor did they foresee mob lynching. The BNS explicitly addresses these threats. Protections for women and children are also bolstered. Key safeguards from Supreme Court judgments-such as mandatory FIR registration and arrest protections-are now statutory, not just judicial interpretations. Citizens get statutory rights. They are not left to wait for court clarification. Fifth, making justice accessible from the FIR: Have you or someone you know hesitated to report a crime because of unclear rules about where to file a complaint?

For generations, such jurisdictional disputes kept many silent, steering them away from seeking justice. Zero FIR allows a complaint to be filed at any station, regardless of where the crime happened. Electronic FIR (e-FIR) lets people file complaints digitally-no need to visit the police station. Witness protection, video-link testimony, and measures to conceal identity all help. Decriminalisation moves these goals forward. Community service for low-harm offences helps. Crowded prisons become less so; the stigma of a criminal conviction is reduced for minor offences. These steps point toward a more humane, modern legal framework.

How Haryana has made it to the top

Legal reform matters only when put into practice. Haryana recently became the top-ranked state implementing the new criminal laws, with a score of 94.42 as of June 21.  This result is not mere symbolism. It is the product of sustained investment in capacity building. This ranking rests on four pillars: administrative reforms, operational efficiency, integration of ICT (information and communication technology), and interoperability with the Criminal Justice System (ICJS). Every investigating officer now operates under the new framework and is guided by the I.O. 

Mobile Application, Mobile forensic units, stronger witness protection, and digital tools now directly support field investigators. These advances stretch beyond policing. Electronic summons, digital case management, and video conferencing save money, workforce, and time. These tools boost efficiency and transparency. Haryana’s e-Challan system cut CO2 emissions by 8,165 kg in four months. E-Summons and video-conference hearings saved Rs 26 crore within six to seven months. Person-hours saved now go to investigation and patrol-no more escorting undertrials or filing physical papers.  Scientific thinking and evidence-focused work have grown. For police, our role in this shift is more than administrative. It is moral too.  Using mobile forensic units tells victims: their truth matters. Issuing e-summons demonstrates respect for witnesses’ time. Closing a case with a digital chargesheet backed by DNA, voice samples, CCTV footage, and forensic reports shows the court that the police value truth over convenience. The new criminal laws have provided us with tools. Still, it is essential that every stakeholder-police, prosecution, FSL, judiciary, government, and the public-uses them with rigour, integrity, and urgency. Isn’t the real goal a justice system you can trust-where speed meets fairness? Ultimately, we want trials that are not just faster but worthy of a sovereign people. Citizens should approach justice with confidence, not fear.

The writer is Director General of Police, Haryana; Views presented are personal.