With dummy FIRs, pocket guides, police get ready to switch to new criminal laws
- Ahead of the implementation of the new criminal laws from July 1, at least 23 modifications have been made to the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network Systems (CCTNS), an online platform used by more than 16,000 police stations across the country to register first information reports.
Highlights:
- With the new laws coming into force, the FIRs will be registered under Section 173 of the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), instead of Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).
- All the States were on board and prepared to switch to the new system from July 1.
- The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) replaces the Indian Penal Code, 1860; the Bharatiya Sakshya (BS) replaces the Indian Evidence Act, 1872; and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) replaces the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898.
- The Delhi Police, which was one of the first police forces across the country to roll out training and educational modules for the new laws, aims to sensitise all the 90,000 police personnel by August.
- “Dummy FIRs are being filed to accustom the police officials to the new format.
- We have given pocket-sized books compressing the three laws to all ranks as a ready reckoner.
- The sections of laws being used for years are being changed, the books will come in handy while registering a case
- Another police official said the old laws such as the IPC and CrPC will still be in use. “If a case is registered after July 1 but the crime occurred before the date, it will be registered under the BNSS and relevant sections of the IPC.
- The existing cases in court, where chargesheets are yet to be filed or the trial is still on, will be held under the old system.
- The CCTNS will have both the old and new provisions
- A total of 20 new crimes have been added, and the period of imprisonment has been increased for 33 offences.
- The penalty of community service has been introduced for six crimes and a mandatory minimum punishment has been introduced in 23 crimes.
Prelims Takeaway:
- CCTNS
- BNS, 2023