JAMMU: The two-day training programme on “New Criminal Laws” held for Judicial Officers, Prosecution Officers, Police Officers and officers from Forensic Science Laboratories of Jammu province including Research Assistants of High Court of J&K and Ladakh at Jammu Wing concluded today at J&K Judicial Academy, Janipur here.
The brainstorming deliberations of day one had already set the tone and tenor for the second-day orientation. The second day’s sessions were continued by Sakal Bhushan, an eminent jurist and son of the soil, now practising in the Supreme Court of India, and Delhi High Court who dissected various additions, alterations and amendments in the three laws for the benefit of the participants and analysed in detail vis-à-vis the old laws in light of the rulings of the Apex Court.
The resource person deliberated that Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 represents a path-breaking and transformative overhaul of the legal framework in India. The key provisions and changes in the BNS highlight a shift towards modernization and responsiveness to societal needs. He stated that BNS, 2023 addresses various aspects, from offenses against women, children, and murder to tackling organized crime, terrorism, and exploitation.
It removes outdated terms, introduces gender-neutral provisions, and aligns with evolving societal norms, he added. He underlined that the BNS embodies a progressive and comprehensive legal framework, reflecting a commitment to justice, fairness, and the evolving needs of society. It stands as a testament to the nation’s dedication to shaping a legal system that is both robust and responsive to the challenges and values of the contemporary era, he asserted.
In the second and last session, the resource person educated the participants about the important changes made in the Bhartiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), 2023. He highlighted that most of the core principles that formed a part of India’s evidence jurisprudence e.g., burden of proof, admissions, relevancy of facts, etc. remain unchanged under the BSA. With significant emphasis being accorded to electronic records and their treatment, the enactment of the BSA is certainly a significant step forward for aligning India’s legal system to contemporary technological advances, maintained the resource person.
The resource person encouraged the participants in all the sessions to ask as many questions as they had and all the sessions remained very interactive during which the participants actively participated and shared their difficulties, and past experiences and also asked questions on various aspects of the subject topics. All their queries were answered in detail by the resource persons.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Yash Paul Bourney, Director, J&K Judicial Academy.
