Jammu: The three new criminal laws Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) that will replace the Indian Penal Code, 1860; Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898; and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, respectively will come into effect from July 1, 2024.
In order to make the people of Jammu and Kashmir aware of these new laws, the Director General of Police, J&K, R.R Swain has sanctioned over rupees 8.23 lakh vide an order issued by Police headquarters for conducting awareness programmes in favour of all the districts of the Union territory.
Vide an order of PHQ, an amount of over rupees 8.23 lakh has been sanctioned in favour of 23 districts including 03 police districts of J&K for conducting awareness camps/debates aimed to enlighten the general public, especially involving youth of schools/colleges as well as women regarding these new laws.
In order to get maximum benefits from these awareness programmes and to reach the maximum number of people, the district police heads have been directed to conduct these awareness programmes at sub-division levels as well.
The three outgoing laws were made to strengthen and protect the British rule and their purpose was to punish, not to give justice. The soul of the three new laws is to protect all the rights given to Indian citizens by the constitution, and, their purpose will not be to punish but give justice.
The new laws include provisions which ensure that not only the accused but the victims of crime, and society in general too receive justice, and thrust has been given to modernize the investigation process by using technology. These laws have provisions to tackle terrorism and organized crimes more effectively, and they incorporate advancements in modern and scientific technology to improve the quality of investigations besides timelines in trials.
Additionally, the laws have provisions for increased punishment in certain offences. It has introduced new offences, including offences against the state, organized crime, offences related to terrorism, mob lynching, non-reporting of rash and negligent acts, crimes of snatching, ATM theft, Ponzi schemes, and leaked question papers.
The new laws expand the definition of documents to include electronic or digital records, e-mails, server logs, computers, smartphones, laptops, SMS, websites, locational evidence, mail, and messages on devices. Provision has been made in them to digitize the entire process from FIR to case diary, case diary to charge sheet and charge sheet to judgment. Videography has been made compulsory at the time of search and seizure which will be part of the case and will not implicate innocent citizens, without such recording by the police no charge sheet will be valid
Provision of e-FIR is being added for the first time, every district and police station will designate a police officer who will officially inform the family of the arrested person about his arrest online and in person. The statement of the victim has been made compulsory in cases of sexual violence and the video recording of the statement has also been made compulsory in cases of sexual harassment.
