The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has issued a directive to all Central ministries and departments, mandating the inclusion of training content on recently enacted criminal laws set to take effect on July 1, 2024.
In a memorandum addressed to all ministries and departments, the DoPT highlighted the significance of the three new criminal laws—the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023; the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023; and the Bharatiya Sakshaya Adhiniyam, 2023. These laws will replace the Indian Penal Code, 1860, the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872.
The memorandum emphasized the need for all training institutions under the ministries to integrate comprehensive content on these new laws. It urged the utilization of e-courses available on the iGoT Karmayogi portal, designed to educate employees about the amendments and implications introduced by the legislative reforms.
To facilitate effective training, ministries and departments were advised to collaborate with the Bureau of Police Research and Development under the Ministry of Home Affairs for guidance in developing educational programs focused on the new legal frameworks.
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita introduces significant reforms, including the addition of 20 new crimes, enhanced penalties for existing offenses, and the introduction of community service penalties for certain crimes. The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita enhances procedural aspects with provisions for audio-video recording and specific timelines for legal proceedings. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Sakshaya Adhiniyam focuses on modifying and updating provisions related to evidence in criminal cases.
This initiative marks a pivotal shift in India’s legal landscape, prioritizing the protection of vulnerable groups and aligning with contemporary societal needs, thereby modernizing the criminal justice system from its colonial-era foundations.