RAIPUR,CG: Inspector General of Police (Bilaspur Range) Sanjeev Shukla  on Tuesday said the country is coming out of nearly two hundred years of colonial law. It is starting a new era imbued with Indianness through the Indian Justice Code 2023, Indian Civil Defense Code 2023 and Indian Evidence Act 2023. .

He was addressing the media workshop ‘Vartalaap’ organized in Raipur on three new criminal laws under the joint aegis of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India and Press Information Bureau, Raipur. It was attended by correspondents covering legal and crime beats of local print, electronic and online media.

He said three new criminal laws, which will be effective from July 01, 2024 across the country, are going to move from the Penal Code to the Justice Code.

Discussing the three new laws in detail, Sanjeev Shukla said that the new law has been made keeping the public in mind. He said that the purpose of the three new major laws is to provide justice rather than punishment.

He said that today the number of cyber-crimes has increased significantly. There was no provision for cyber-crimes in the old laws, but a provision has been made in the new law which is the demand of today's times. He said that in these new laws, emphasis has been laid on information technology as well as establishment of forensic labs.

Deputy Director Prosecution, Chhattisgarh Police Headquarters, Nava Raipur, Avnish Chaurasia said that provision of e-record is being made in the new laws, under which zero FIR, e-FIR and charge sheet will be digital. Information will be provided to the victim within 90 days and forensic investigation will be mandatory in cases punishable with imprisonment of 7 years or more.

He said that treason has been defined by repealing the treason law. It provides for punishment of up to seven years or life imprisonment for actions against the sovereignty and integrity of India. He said that the new criminal laws are simple and can be easily understood if studied casually.

He said that if a fugitive criminal is found guilty, there is a provision for punishment of 10 years or more/life imprisonment/death penalty and necessary steps should be taken in collaboration with other countries to confiscate their property. Also, new provisions have been made on organized crimes. By defining terrorism, the policy of zero tolerance towards it has been strengthened and provision for death penalty or life imprisonment for terrorist acts has been made.

Discussing the Indian Civil Defense Code 2023, Assistant District Prosecution Officer, State Police Academy Chandkhuri, Raipur, Shubham Tomar said that after the implementation of these laws, the general public will get justice in a simple, accessible and coordinated manner.

The entire process from FIR to court decision will become online and India will become the country that uses modern technology the most in its criminal justice system. Such a judicial system will be established in the country through which justice can be provided within three years.

He said that time limit has been set in 35 sections. He said that there is a provision to register FIR within three days of filing the complaint electronically, and in cases of sexual harassment, investigation report will have to be given within seven days. Tomar discussed in detail the process of arresting a person by the police under Section 41.

Kripa Shankar Yadav, Additional Director General, Press Information Bureau, New Delhi, said that the objective of the conversation is to convey information about the new laws to the common people through the media, so that they can become aware of these laws.

He expressed confidence that the new laws will play an important role in speedy justice.