Union Home Minister Amit Shah has emphasized that India’s proposed criminal law overhaul aims to bring a fresh perspective to the legal system, eliminating colonial-era remnants that have persisted for nearly 150 years. The objective of the new laws is not punitive but focused on ensuring justice for all. Shah made these remarks during the International Lawyers’ Conference hosted by the Bar Council of India.
The Indian Parliament introduced three bills during the monsoon session to replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and the Indian Evidence Act. Shah announced three administrative initiatives to streamline the criminal justice system, including e-courts, the Inter-operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS), and technology integration.
He believes that by combining these initiatives with the new laws, the pendency in the criminal justice system can be eliminated within a decade. Key provisions of the proposed laws include an expanded scope for summary trials in cases with punishments not exceeding three years, shorter deadlines for producing challans, concluding investigations, and pronouncing judgments.
Shah also highlighted the need for advancements like e-prosecution, e-presence, e-forensics, and e-courts to expedite legal proceedings and make the system more efficient and citizen-centric. He urged lawyers across the country to review these laws and provide valuable suggestions, emphasizing their insights into the legal system’s challenges are essential for effective implementation.
The drafting process involved extensive consultations and took around four years, with input from various stakeholders, including states, territories, judges, universities, and legislators.