Justice Isn’t Delayed In Chandigarh – It’s Delivered!
From outdated colonial codes to digital justice supply, Chandigarh proves reform isn’t simply doable, it’s highly effective. Chandigarh turned the primary Union Territory to completely 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 exceptional 91.1% conviction charge beneath the three new legal 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.
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In a historic shift from colonial-era authorized frameworks, India applied three new legal legal guidelines, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), from July 1, 2024.
Chandigarh turned the primary Union Territory to completely operationalise these reforms, rising as a mannequin of environment friendly, technology-driven justice supply. With a 91.1% conviction charge and quicker case decision, the town is setting a nationwide precedent for contemporary legal justice administration.
Chandigarh was the first within the nation to completely operationalise the brand new authorized codes, and its efforts are already exhibiting promising outcomes. Based on information reported by The Tribune, the Union Territory secured convictions in 71 out of 78 circumstances determined inside a yr.
What’s extra putting is the drastic discount in conviction timelines, from a mean of 300 days beneath the previous system to simply 110 days now. This acceleration displays the system’s shift towards effectivity, transparency, and technological integration.
The reform push has obtained robust backing from prime management. Dwelling Minister Amit Shah unveiled 4 digital platforms geared toward modernising the legal 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 beneath the brand new legal legislation regime. Impressively, 1,459 of those had been e-FIRs, exhibiting 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 picture and video supplies. This not solely ensures transparency but additionally prevents proof tampering by instantly syncing recordsdata with FIRs.
Chandigarh’s legislation enforcement businesses have embraced the Interoperable Felony Justice System (ICJS) by way of the Nyay Setu platform, enabling seamless information entry and coordination throughout departments.
To help scientific investigations, the Chandigarh Police deployed 5 specialised Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) crime scene models, with a further standby unit to take care of a 24–hour response functionality. The duty drive consists of:
- 22 IT specialists
- 68 Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) specialists
- 14 forensic analysts from the Nationwide Forensic Sciences College
One other key aspect of the reform is capability constructing. Police personnel, together with Station Home Officers (SHOs), Investigating Officers (IOs), and technical employees, underwent intensive coaching by way of the iGOT Karmayogi portal. Additionally they obtained field-level utility coaching to make sure easy execution of the brand new legal guidelines.
New Felony Legal guidelines
The three new legal legal guidelines specifically, BNS,BNSS AND BSA has changed three previous legal legal guidelines on 1 July 2024. These previous legal legal guidelines had been repealed by the authorized implication of the brand new legal guidelines in drive.
India’s legal justice system confronted points like outdated legal guidelines, trial delays, and overcrowded prisons. To handle these, three new legal guidelines had 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 handle fashionable authorized challenges.
It introduces neighborhood service as a brand new type of punishment for minor offences, promotes restorative justice, and updates authorized terminology, changing ‘minor’ with ‘youngster’ and together with transgender beneath ‘gender’.
The legislation particularly criminalizes mob lynching by 5 or extra individuals based mostly on id elements 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 coated primarily beneath particular legal guidelines permitting authorities to proceed beneath 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 court docket 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 crew 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 legal procedures for higher accessibility and pace.
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 by way of proof guidelines. The BSA broadens the definition of paperwork to incorporate digital codecs like emails and pen drives, making them admissible as main proof beneath Part 57.
It additionally expands secondary proof to incorporate oral and written admissions, strengthening the scope and relevance of proof in court docket.
