Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi dedicated the successful implementation of three new Criminal Laws to the nation in Chandigarh today. The theme of the program was "Secure Society, Developed India - From Punishment to Justice". Several dignitaries including Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah and Administrator of Chandigarh Shri Gulab Chand Kataria were present on the occasion.

In his address on the occasion, Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah said that today is a golden day for the Criminal Justice System of the country when Chandigarh has become the first Union Territory in the country to fully implement the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam. He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, all the five pillars of our criminal justice system - Police, Jail, Judiciary, Prosecution and Forensics - have been completely modernized. Shri Shah said that these three laws came into force on 01^st July, 2024 and many new provisions, systems and institutions have been established under these laws.

Shri Amit Shah said that the old laws made by the Britishers 160 years ago were aimed at protecting the British rule rather than focussing on the citizens. He said that the three new laws brought by Prime Minister Modi have been made by Indians, in the Indian Parliament and to provide justice and security to Indian citizens. Shri Shah said that from the ramparts of the Red Fort, Prime Minister Modi had urged the entire nation that all signs of slavery should be removed from our administration and the idea of ​​a new India should be established.

Union Home and Minister of Cooperation said that our criminal justice system, protecting 140 crore people of India, their honour and their Constitutional rights, has now become completely Indian. He said that there is no place for punishment in this system, but speedy justice will be provided. Similarly, justice will be provided in any FIR up to the Supreme Court within 3 years and there will be relief from long delays in getting justice. Shri Shah said that after 77 years of Independence, Prime Minister Modi has given these rights to the people of the country. He said that new laws will work to protect the citizens, their property, honour and their Constitutional rights. He said that the most important feature of these laws is that their soul is Indian and objective is to provide justice to the citizens of India.

Shri Amit Shah said that these laws are in different phases of implementation in all States and Union Territories of the country and once they are fully implemented in 3 years, our criminal justice system will be the most advanced justice system in the World. He said that the technology has been incorporated and interpreted in these laws in such a way that no matter whatever latest technology comes in the future, there will be no need to change their interpretation. Shri Shah said that this change by Prime Minister Modi in the Country's criminal justice system is taking place for 140 crore people and it will become the biggest reform in the world.

Union Home Minister said that while making these new laws, the Ministry of Home Affairs continuously held more than 160 meetings since August 2019 under the guidance of Prime Minister Modi. Apart from this, detailed discussions were held with Governors, Chief Ministers, Lieutenant Governors, Administrators, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and Chief Justices of High Courts, Bar Council, Bar Association, Law Universities, Members of Parliament and all IPS officers of the country. Shri Shah said that in these 4 years, the latest technology and provisions of the World have also been studied at many levels. He said that while making these laws, the Criminal Justice System of about 43 countries were studied.

Shri Amit Shah said that since the notification of implementation of three new laws till now, training of about 11,34,698 officers has been completed. He said that along with technology, use of Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) has also been made mandatory under these laws. Along with this, a separate chapter has been added for women and children in these laws and for the first time, terrorism and organized crime have been defined. Shri Shah added that it has been made mandatory under the new laws that every citizen who files an FIR will get a progress report from the police in 90 days. He said that now there is no need to go to the police station to register E-FIR and Zero FIR.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that an E-Vaarta facility has been started in Chandigarh between the police, judiciary, forensic, prosecution and jail through the Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS). He said that fugitive criminals can also now be punished through Trial in Absentia. These laws will be available in all the languages ​​of the Eighth Schedule through the Bhashini App. Home Minister said that the post of Director of Prosecution has been created to prevent corruption. He said that the provision of Rajdroh which was in existence for decades has now been replaced by Deshdroh.

Shri Amit Shah said that within 4 months of implementation of these new laws, more than 11 lakh FIRs have been registered and out of these, judgment has already been delivered in 9500 cases. He said that their conviction rate is more than 85%, which is more than our current conviction rate of 58%. He said that this shows that after full implementation of these new laws, speedy justice will be delivered, conviction rate will be higher and crime rate will come down.

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RK / VV / RR