Home Ministry may notify three criminal laws before January 26
New Delhi: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is all set to notify three new criminal justice acts, namely IPC, CrPC and Evidence Act, replacing the colonial laws before January 26, official sources said.
The process of notifying the three new laws – the Indian Judicial Code, the Indian Civil Defense Code and the Indian Evidence Act – began soon after President Draupadi Murmu gave assent on December 25.
According to sources, the Home Ministry will start a training program for police officers, investigators and people associated with forensic fields soon after the three laws are notified.
The objective of the training is to provide training to police personnel to ensure implementation of these laws and ensure fair, timely and evidence-based investigation and speedy trials.
For the training programme, sources said, 3,000 officers from different sectors will be appointed to train police officers, investigators and people from forensic departments, and the process will be called a “train-the-trainer” programme, sources told ANI. Told on the condition of anonymity.
“The training program will cover about 90 per cent of the people to be trained within nine months to a year,” sources said. Officials said the Home Ministry has already consulted for judiciary training and it will be done at the Bhopal Academy.
Besides, sources said, a model will be set up in Chandigarh to ensure foolproof online mechanism as most of the records will be electronic or digital.
The Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been replaced by the Indian Judicial Code, the CrPC by the Civil Protection Code and the Indian Evidence Act by the Indian Evidence Act.
All three laws were passed by Parliament in the recently concluded winter session. As per the new laws, the production and supply of records will be in electronic form such as Zero FIR, e-FIR, chargesheet, and information will be provided to the victims in digital form. After full implementation of these laws, the victim will get justice within three years and the police officers will have to provide information through digital medium within 90 days.
The focus will be on forensic evidence for which sources said 900 FSL vans will be provided to all police districts to visit crime scenes and collect videography and forensic evidence compulsorily in cases involving punishment of seven years or more than seven years. .
According to these Acts, recording of evidence in any investigation, videography of the entire process of search or seizure of any property by the police through electronic devices and statements of rape victims can be recorded through audio and video electronic means.
Prosecution is a major focus of Section 20 of the Indian Civil Defense Code for the Directorate and it defines the eligibility, functions and powers of various authorities under it.
Duties and responsibilities of prosecuting officers at different levels were laid down to ensure desired coordination. The provision of supervision by the prosecutor has been introduced during the investigation phase.
The post of Directorate of Prosecution will be established at the district level and the criteria for appointment of Director of Prosecution and Assistant Director of Prosecution have been amended in the Indian Civil Defense Code, 2023.
