Future Scaping New Criminal Laws: Innovations and Reforms on 1st July, 2024
The School of Law at Rai University, Ahmedabad, organized an insightful one-day workshop titled “Future Scaping New Criminal Laws: Innovations and Reforms” on July 1, 2024. The event, held in the Seminar Hall A1/GF/07, was attended by 47 students and provided a crucial platform for legal professionals, policymakers, law enforcement officers, academics, and community leaders to collaborate and envision a progressive criminal justice system.
The primary objective of the workshop was to raise awareness among students about the measures needed to prevent crimes and foster a healthy, safe social structure with the help of governing bodies. Emphasis was placed on the urgent need to ensure women's safety, security, and well-being, addressing the persistent issue of crimes against women despite numerous governmental and community initiatives.
The workshop highlighted the introduction of three significant new criminal laws: the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), replacing the Indian Penal Code of 1860; the Bharatiya Sakshya (BS), replacing the Indian Evidence Act of 1872; and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), replacing the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1898. These laws are set to come into force on July 1, 2024, marking a pivotal shift in India's commitment to addressing modern challenges in criminal justice.
Speakers discussed several key areas of reform, including emerging trends and technologies in criminal justice, promoting restorative justice practices, advocating for sentencing reforms, and ensuring equity and fairness within the criminal justice system. Additional focus areas included integrating mental health and substance abuse support, fostering global cooperation, enhancing education and public awareness, addressing environmental crimes and sustainability, developing practical implementation strategies, and monitoring and evaluating reform impacts.
The workshop provided students with valuable insights into the new laws and their implications for the Indian criminal justice system. The enactment of these laws represents a significant overhaul of colonial-era statutes, emphasizing a victim-centric approach, national security, and the inclusion of digital and electronic evidence. This workshop underscored the importance of progressive legal reforms and their role in creating a safer and more just society.
