New criminal laws to ensure faster, tech-driven justice: Chhattisgarh CM

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Sunday said the objective of the new criminal laws is not merely to punish offenders but to establish a citizen-centric system in which victims receive timely justice, and criminals cannot escape the law.

He said the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, which came into force on July 1, 2024, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have modernised India’s criminal justice system by replacing colonial-era laws.

Addressing a workshop on “Strengthening Digital Justice through New Criminal Laws”, organised by the State’s Home Department here, Sai said the new criminal laws have been framed in line with present-day requirements and emerging challenges.

They have marked a historic transformation in India’s justice delivery system by ensuring faster, transparent, accessible and time-bound justice for citizens, he said.

“The old laws were enacted at a time when digital technology, CCTV surveillance, electronic records and modern forensic science did not exist. Today’s crimes have evolved, and technology has become an indispensable part of the justice delivery system,” Sai said.

He said the new legal framework recognises digital evidence, CCTV footage, mobile chats, electronic records and scientific forensic examination, thereby strengthening criminal investigation and prosecution.

The CM said that the establishment of a campus of the National Forensic Sciences University in Chhattisgarh would further strengthen criminal investigation and judicial processes.

The use of digital technology has made the justice delivery process significantly faster and more efficient. While serving summons earlier took several days, the e-summons system now enables instant delivery and digital tracking, he said.

Platforms such as Nyaya Shruti, a national video conferencing framework, facilitate secure digital recording of court proceedings and support online and hybrid hearings, he said.

Referring to the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems, Sai said police stations across the country have now been digitally interconnected, enabling instant access to criminal records and facilitating prompt police action.

All police stations in Chhattisgarh are functioning online, and 1,97,547 FIRs have so far been registered digitally in the State, he said without specifying the period to which the figure pertains.

He said the Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) has established secure digital coordination among the judiciary, police, prosecution, prisons and other agencies, significantly reducing delays in the judicial process through faster exchange of information.

Sai said the new laws have simplified the justice delivery process, reduced paperwork and made it more transparent and cost-effective.

The laws would also prove useful in tackling emerging challenges such as cybercrime, he said, adding that the State Government has recently established nine new cyber police stations and launched awareness campaigns.

The CM said continuous training and capacity building of officials associated with the justice system were essential to keep pace with technological advancements, and assured that the state Government remained committed to effective implementation of the new criminal laws through regular training and monitoring.

In his address, Chhattisgarh High Court Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha said effective implementation of the three new criminal laws would make the state’s criminal justice system more transparent, scientific, technology-driven and efficient.

He said systems such as e-Sakshya, e-challan, Nyaya Shruti and digital forensics would play a crucial role in realising the objectives of the new laws, while scientific, impartial and transparent investigation at the crime scene would strengthen the entire judicial process.

Chief Justice Sinha said around 9,910 cases in district courts and 58 cases in the High Court were heard through video conferencing during June, and urged all stakeholders to make extensive use of the Nyaya Shruti platform.

Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Vijay Sharma said the workshop would prove to be a milestone in the history of the justice system. He said digitisation of the criminal justice system had gathered pace following directions issued by the chief minister after reviewing the implementation of the ICJS.