Srinagar, July 01 (KNS) Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory has enacted three pivotal criminal laws starting today, aimed at modernizing the legal framework and enhancing the efficiency of its judicial process.
The new laws—the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA)—replace the colonial-era Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, and the Indian Evidence Act, respectively.
News agency KNS reported that the Jammu and Kashmir police wasted no time in implementing the new laws, registering the first FIRs under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Police stations in Srinagar, Anantnag, and Baramulla were among the first to register cases, marking a notable milestone in the region’s legal enforcement framework.
An official at the Chanapora police station, under the jurisdiction of the Sadder subdivision, confirmed the registration of an FIR bearing number 22/2024. “The case has been registered under sections 135-1(b) and 303(2) BNS of the new law, marking a notable milestone in the region’s legal enforcement framework,” the official stated.
Similarly, Police Station Bijbehara in Anantnag registered FIR number 143/2024 under Section 125(a) and 281 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023. Baramulla Police also registered a case at Police Station Kreeri under new criminal provisions.
These new laws represent a historic shift in India’s criminal justice system. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita replaces the Indian Penal Code of 1860, emphasizing restorative justice and victim rights. This law aims to address the root causes of crime, offering offenders a chance to reform and reintegrate into society.
The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita replaces the Criminal Procedure Code of 1973, ensuring swift and fair trials.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelThis law introduces measures to reduce delays in the justice delivery system, ensuring that justice is timely and transparent. It also emphasizes the protection of the rights of the accused while ensuring public safety.
The Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam replaces the Indian Evidence Act of 1872, modernizing evidence collection and usage. This law incorporates modern technology to ensure the accuracy and integrity of evidence, introducing digital documentation and forensic advancements to strengthen the credibility of the judicial process.
J&K police chief R R Swain highlighted the BNS's significance in providing a clear legal mandate to tackle cross-border terrorism. "In J&K's context, the BNS provides a helpful definition of terrorism as it categorically and explicitly provides a legal mandate to tackle terrorism emanating from beyond international borders," he said.
To commemorate the implementation of these new laws, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha presided over a ceremony at the Police Headquarters.
Prior to this the Police had organized various training programs on the new criminal laws, aimed at educating police officers and officials of the department.
The Home Minister Amit Shah said that introduction of these new criminal laws is a landmark moment in India’s legal history, promising a more just and transparent legal environment.
"In the new laws, the first priority has been given to crime against women and children. By adding a new chapter on crime against women and children, it has been made even more sensitive,"Home Minister Amit shah said. (KNS)