CHIEF MINISTER ANNOUNCES COMMENCEMENT OF THREECRIMINAL LAWS

The Union Home Ministry had recently
announced the enactment of three new criminal laws, Chief Minister Shri
N. Biren Singh said today announcing that implementation of the three
laws commence from today.
Addressing a formal function at the Palace Auditorium, Manipur
State Film Development Society, Shri N. Biren Singh said that the
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha
Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), 2023
have replaced British-era Indian Penal Code, 1860, the Code of Criminal
Procedure, 1973 and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, respectively.
Citing that under the new laws, there are provisions for maximum
of two adjournments in court cases and filing zero-FIR at any police
station the Chief Minister expressed that these laws will be of great help
to the people.
The Chief Minister continued that under the new laws, FIRs can be
filed in one's own dialect.
Stating that the laws are abreast of the times, and will be very
effective, he said that at the same time the implementation part is also
very crucial.
If those implementing agencies including security officers, lawyers
are not sincere then the laws will not serve their purpose, he said and
further appealed to all to work with sincerity and with conviction to help
in delivering justice to the people.
Shri N. Biren Singh said that the Central Government's introduction
of these laws stem from the observation that the existing laws were
inadequate to address the technological advancements and societal
shifts that have occurred over the past few decades.
The new laws overhaul the Indian criminal justice system, he said,
adding that they aim to implement justice through a victim centric
approach, increasing focus on national security and introducing digital/
electronic evidence reviews.
Shri N. Biren Singh also said that there are provisions against mob
justice and further appealed to the people of the State against delivering
mob justice and to bring understanding through dialogue and more
peaceful ways.
He said other major changes include revisions in punishment for
few crimes, and addressing issues such as the jurisdiction, backlog of
cases, insufficient human resources and infrastructure, inadequate
investigations and prosecutions, and outdated laws and procedures.
The Chief Minister also highlighted certain key features of the
three new laws and said that under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS),
2023, in the corporate context, the penal sections of law mostly relate to
cases of Cheating, Criminal misappropriation, Breach of trust, Forgery
and used of forged documents.
He also highlighted key feature of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha
Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 and said it defines additional types of electronic
evidence, empowers courts and police officers to issue summons in
cases where digital evidence is involved, clarifies jurisdictions in cheating
cases involving electronic modes of deception and empowers Courts to
ask for electronic filings in cases where documents are voluminous.
The Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), 2023 has expanded
definition of ‘document’ to include electronic and digital records and
includes examples of such records, expanded definition of documentary
evidence to include electronic/digital records, classified electronic
evidence as primary evidence when produced from ‘proper custody’ and
broadened the definition of ‘Experts’ to include more areas of expertise.
The laws have been presented with a vision to tackle the
challenges within India's criminal justice system, with support of
advanced investigation methodologies and technology, the Chief Minister
added.
Law and Legislative Affairs Minister Shri Thounaojam
Basantakumar Singh said Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 has
provisions for community service.
The earlier laws focus mostly on the punishment of the culprits
rather than rehabilitation of the culprits, he said adding that these new
laws have a victim centric approach.
The function was also attended by Minister Shri Thongam Biswajit
Singh, Minister Shri Govindas Konthoujam, Minister Dr. Sapam Ranjan,
Minister Shri L. Susindro Meitei, Minister Shri Heikham Dingo, MLAs,
Chief Secretary Dr Vineet Joshi, DGP Rajiv Singh, Administrative
Secretaries, senior police officials, eminent law officers, law students
among others.