Justice Isn’t Delayed In Chandigarh

From outdated colonial codes to digital justice supply, Chandigarh proves reform isn’t simply attainable, it’s highly effective. It grew to become the primary Union Territory to totally operationalise these reforms.

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CHANDIGARH: In a landmark transfer to revamp India’s colonial-era authorized system, Chandigarh has emerged as a beacon of transformation. With a outstanding 91.1% conviction fee underneath the three new felony legal guidelines Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), the Union Territory is setting the tone for nationwide authorized reform.

These legislations formally changed the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Code of Felony Process (CrPC), and Indian Proof Act from July 1, 2024.

ALSO READ: Amit Shah Leads Key Meeting on New Criminal Laws in Delhi: Major Legal Reforms Ahead

In a historic shift from colonial-era authorized frameworks, India carried out three new felony legal guidelines, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), from July 1, 2024.

The UT grew to become the primary Union Territory to totally operationalise these reforms, rising as a mannequin of environment friendly, technology-driven justice supply. With a 91.1% conviction fee and quicker case decision, town is setting a nationwide precedent for contemporary felony justice administration.

Chandigarh was the first within the nation to totally operationalise the brand new authorized codes, and its efforts are already displaying promising outcomes. In response to information reported by The Tribune, the Union Territory secured convictions in 71 out of 78 circumstances determined inside a yr.

What’s extra hanging is the drastic discount in conviction timelines, from a mean of 300 days underneath the outdated system to simply 110 days now. This acceleration displays the system’s shift towards effectivity, transparency, and technological integration.

The reform push has acquired sturdy backing from prime management. Dwelling Minister Amit Shah unveiled 4 digital platforms geared toward modernising the felony justice system, whereas Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded Chandigarh’s pioneering implementation in December 2024.

As of June 29, 2025, a complete of 3,154 FIRs had been registered underneath the brand new felony legislation regime. Impressively, 1,459 of those have been e-FIRs, displaying the growing use of digital platforms for citizen comfort. 758 chargesheets have already been filed, indicating improved procedural effectivity.

A cornerstone of this success is the incorporation of forensic science and digital instruments. The e-Sakshya platform ensures strong proof administration by storing geo-tagged and hash-coded photograph and video supplies. This not solely ensures transparency but in addition prevents proof tampering by instantly syncing information with FIRs.

Regulation enforcement companies of the UT have embraced the Interoperable Felony Justice System (ICJS) via the Nyay Setu platform, enabling seamless information entry and coordination throughout departments.

To assist scientific investigations, the Chandigarh Police deployed 5 specialised Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) crime scene models, with a further standby unit to keep up a 24–hour response functionality. The duty power contains:

22 IT specialists
68 Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) specialists
14 forensic analysts from the Nationwide Forensic Sciences College

One other key factor of the reform is capability constructing. Police personnel, together with Station Home Officers (SHOs), Investigating Officers (IOs), and technical workers, underwent intensive coaching via the iGOT Karmayogi portal. Additionally they acquired field-level software coaching to make sure easy execution of the brand new legal guidelines.

New Felony Legal guidelines

The three new felony legal guidelines particularly, BNS,BNSS AND BSA has changed three outdated felony legal guidelines on 1 July 2024. These outdated felony legal guidelines have been repealed by the authorized implication of the brand new legal guidelines in power.

India’s felony justice system confronted points like outdated legal guidelines, trial delays, and overcrowded prisons. To deal with these, three new legal guidelines have been launched, i.e., BNS, BNSS and BSA, changing the IPC, CrPC, and Proof Act.

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 replaces the Indian Penal Code with up to date provisions to deal with fashionable authorized challenges.

It introduces group service as a brand new type of punishment for minor offences, promotes restorative justice, and updates authorized terminology, changing ‘minor’ with ‘baby’ and together with transgender underneath ‘gender’.

The legislation particularly criminalizes mob lynching by 5 or extra individuals primarily based on identification components like caste or faith. It dedicates a full chapter to crimes towards ladies and youngsters, acknowledging their vulnerability and the necessity for centered safety.

Notably, the BNS additionally incorporates organized crime and terrorism inside its scope, beforehand lined primarily underneath particular legal guidelines permitting authorities to proceed underneath BNS or legal guidelines like UAPA relying on the case.

Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023

The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, changing the CrPC, introduces key procedural reforms with a citizen-centric focus.

It enforces time-bound processes by setting strict timelines and limiting adjournments to 2, aiming for faster and extra environment friendly traials.

To make sure uniformity within the courtroom construction, it removes designations like Metropolitan Justice of the Peace and Assistant Classes Decide, streamlining the judicial hierarchy throughout India.

Recognizing medical and forensic developments, the BNSS mandates forensic staff visits in circumstances the place punishment exceeds seaven years.

Embracing the digital period, it permits digital service of summons and examination of accused individuals through digital platforms, modernizing felony procedures for larger accessibility and velocity.

Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023

The Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 replaces the 1872 Indian Proof Act, updating proof legal guidelines for the digital age.

As an adjective legislation, it guides how different legal guidelines are enforced via proof guidelines. The BSA broadens the definition of paperwork to incorporate digital codecs like emails and pen drives, making them admissible as major proof underneath Part 57.

It additionally expands secondary proof to incorporate oral and written admissions, strengthening the scope and relevance of proof in courtroom.

Click Here to Read Previous Reports on New Criminal Law

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