Stay updated on new criminal laws, sr judge tells police, legal officials

Mysuru: Senior civil judge and District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) member-secretary BG Dinesh Monday asked law enforcement officials to update themselves on the three new criminal laws that have come into effect from July 1 throughout the country. He was speaking at the workshop on new criminal laws and awareness programmes organised for police, judiciary, media, prosecution, prison and correctional services personnel by Karnataka Police Academy (KPA) and the Police Training School.
He said three new criminal laws -- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023 -- have replaced the British-era Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure and the Indian Evidence Act.
He asked the police to take steps for effective implementation of all three new criminal laws in terms of technology and capacity building through awareness generation. He advised the police and justice delivery system to stay updated on technology as the nature of crime is evolving over time.
The new criminal laws have been simplified, with overlapping sections merged. There are now 358 sections under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, as against 511 in the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Dinesh said.
Explaining some parts of the new laws, Dinesh said the latest legal provisions will allow any person to file a Zero FIR at any police station, regardless of its jurisdiction, along with online registration of police complaints and electronic serving of summons. With videography of crime scenes now mandatory for all heinous crimes, justice can be dispensed with faster, he said.
The new laws prioritise investigations of offences against women and children, mandating completion of probe into such crimes within two months of the initial filing of report. Additionally, complainants are entitled to regular updates on the progress of their cases every 90 days. The new laws also grant both the accused and the victim the right to receive copies of the FIR.
Women, persons below 15 years, those above 60 and those with disabilities or acute illnesses have been exempted from visiting police stations and can receive police assistance at their places of residence, he pointed out.
Delivering a special lecture at the event, JSS Law College chief executive professor KS Suresh said the new criminal laws also incorporated community services for various crimes instead of punishment. KPA director in-charge Geetha Prasanna and superintendent of Mysuru Central Jail BS Ramesh also attended.