Key Features Of India’s 3 New Criminal Laws

New Delhi: 

India has completely overhauled its criminal justice system with three new criminal laws coming into effect today. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) replaced the Indian Penal Code (IPC); Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) replaced the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) replaced the Indian Evidence Act. The three laws were passed in parliament in December 2023.

The three new laws focus on justice rather than punishment and are aimed at providing speedy justice, all the way, strengthening the judicial and court management system emphasising “access to justice by all”.

The criminal justice system in India after Independence has not delivered the results because of certain inherent shortcomings including substandard investigation and prosecution, large pendency of criminal cases, delayed court proceedings, delay in disposal of cases, low conviction rate, and a large number of undertrial prisoners.

All these factors end up with denial of justice to the common people.

Here are some key details about the new laws: