For more than 150 years, the Indian Penal Code of 1860, the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1898, and the Indian Evidence Act of 1872 continued to govern long after independence. Yet crime evolved from street offences to cyber fraud, organised syndicates, and digital deception.
On July 1, 2024, India took a landmark step by replacing colonial-era laws with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), arguably the most sweeping reform of criminal law in independent India.
As Director General of Police, Haryana, I have witnessed this transformation not just as an administrator but also as a practitioner, standing alongside my team on the front lines. Haryana now leads the country in implementing the new criminal laws (NCL), and I have seen every stage of this transition up close. We retrained investigators, redesigned workflows, and embraced new technology. The learning curve was steep, but reform was essential. When IPC Section 420 became BNS Section 318, and IPC Section 302 became BNS Section 101, investigators, many with limited formal education and training, had to unlearn decades-old practices and master an entirely new legal framework almost overnight.
To appreciate the magnitude of this transformation, it is important to understand India's longstanding challenges and how these new laws seek to address them.
Replacing Endless Delay with Accountability
India's biggest criminal justice challenge has long been delay. More than 5.58 crore cases remain pending, handled by just 21,285 judges. The famous Hindi film dialogue, "Tarikh pe Tarikh", is not merely cinematic exaggeration but a reality.
The BNSS addresses this challenge by introducing enforceable timelines. Investigations into sexual offences against women must be completed within two months, and courts are required to deliver judgements within prescribed periods after arguments conclude. The law also limits adjournments, while statutory bail ensures that if investigations exceed prescribed timelines, the accused acquires an automatic legal right to default bail.
Digital evidence platforms such as e-Sakshya create time-stamped and geo-tagged crime scene records, safeguarding the integrity of evidence and enabling real-time monitoring. Justice thus becomes accountable to the clock.
Addressing the Undertrial Crisis
Around 76% of India's prison population is waiting for years without being convicted. The new legal framework introduces time-bound investigations, strengthens the right to default bail when deadlines are missed, enables routine use of video conferencing for remand proceedings, and mandates consideration of release once an undertrial has served a prescribed portion of the maximum sentence. These reforms reaffirm a fundamental principle: liberty cannot become collateral damage to procedural delay.
From Witness Testimony to Scientific Evidence
Traditionally, heavy reliance on oral testimony left many prosecutions vulnerable. The new laws elevate mandatory forensic and electronic evidence to a central role firmly rooted in objective evidence for serious offences; digital records enjoy broader admissibility and scientific methods.
In Haryana, mobile forensic teams now reach crime scenes promptly. Scene of Crime (SOC) experts independently collect and preserve fingerprints, DNA, digital footprints, and other crucial evidence before it deteriorates. This strengthens the evidentiary chain and improves the chances of establishing the truth in court.
Recognising Twenty-First Century Crimes
The BNS explicitly addresses these emerging threats such as cybercrime, organised criminal syndicates, digital financial fraud, or mob lynching while strengthening protections for women and children. It also incorporates key safeguards developed through Supreme Court jurisprudence, including mandatory registration of FIRs and protections against arbitrary arrest, into statutory law. Citizens no longer have to rely solely on judicial interpretation; these rights now have legislative backing.
Making Justice Accessible From the FIR
For generations, jurisdictional disputes discouraged many victims from seeking justice.
The introduction of the Zero FIR allows complaints to be registered at any police station, regardless of where the offence occurred. Electronic FIRs (e-FIRs) enable citizens to file complaints digitally without visiting a police station. Witness protection measures, video-link testimony, and provisions for concealing witness identity further encourage public participation and strengthen confidence in the justice system.
The reforms also advance decriminalisation. Community service for minor offences offers a constructive alternative to imprisonment, helping reduce overcrowding in prisons while limiting the lifelong stigma associated with criminal convictions. These measures move India towards a more humane and modern criminal justice framework.
Haryana Emerges as the Leader
Legal reform matters only when effectively implemented. Haryana recently secured the highest ranking among states in implementing the new criminal laws, with a score of 94.42 as of June 21. This achievement is not symbolic; it reflects sustained investment in institutional capacity and operational reform.
The state's performance rests on four pillars: administrative reforms, operational efficiency, integration of information and communication technology (ICT), and interoperability with the Interoperable Criminal Justice System (ICJS). Every investigating officer now works under the new legal framework and is supported by the IO mobile application. Mobile forensic units, enhanced witness protection, and digital investigative tools directly assist officers in the field.
These reforms extend well beyond policing. Electronic summons, digital case management, and video conferencing reduce paperwork, travel, and administrative costs while improving transparency and efficiency.
Haryana's e-Challan system reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 8,165 kilograms in just four months. E-summons and video-conference hearings generated savings of nearly ₹26 crore within six to seven months. The person-hours saved are now redirected towards investigation and patrolling instead of escorting undertrials or processing physical paperwork.
Every stakeholder has a Role
Scientific investigation and evidence-based policing have become the cornerstone of the new system. Deploying mobile forensic units assures victims that their truth matters. Serving e-summons respects witnesses' time. Filing digital charge sheets supported by DNA analysis, voice samples, CCTV footage, and forensic reports demonstrates to the courts that the police value truth over convenience.
The success of new criminal laws depends on every stakeholder – police, prosecution, forensic science laboratories, the judiciary, governments, and the public – using them with integrity, professionalism, and urgency.
Ultimately, the goal is simple: a justice system that citizens can trust, where speed is matched by fairness, and where trials are not merely faster but worthy of a sovereign democratic nation. Justice should inspire confidence, not fear.
The above article has been written by IPS Ajay Singhal of the 1992 batch (Haryana cadre) who holds a B.Tech. in Mechanical Engineering. A native of Rewari, Haryana, He is a seasoned administrator with a strong background in anti-corruption and vigilance operations. He was awarded the President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service (2017) and the Police Medal for Meritorious Service (2008) among other accolades.
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