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Category: NEWS WRAP UP

Published: 28 June 2024

KUPWARA: The District Judiciary Kupwara in collaboration with the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) Kupwara today organised 2nd training program for Advocates on the ' Three Criminal Laws' at Court Complex, Handwara.   

The purpose of organising this programme was to generate awareness and bring out the highlights of the three criminal laws,  to facilitate meaningful interactions through technical and Q&A sessions, and to provide an opportunity for the advocates, public prosecutors, stakeholders to participate in the discussions.

The programme had the presence of Khem Raj Sharma, Additional District Sessions Judge (P.O Fast Track Court) Kupwara, Bar Member Court Handwara. The training programme also witnessed overwhelming participation of Members of Bar Association Handwara and other participants.

Addressing the gathering, Khem Raj Sharma, emphasised that the three new laws have been enacted to overhaul the criminal justice system in the country. He said that the Government of India has taken several initiatives to repeal archaic colonial laws and in legislations which are citizen centric and cater to the requirements of a vibrant democracy. The new legislations i.e. the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023; the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023, replace the earlier criminal laws namely, the Indian Penal Code 1860, the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, were also underscored by him.

He also highlighted the key provisions of the new laws and their positive impacts on women and children and on the overarching objectives of the new criminal law triad.

In-depth discussions centered on adopting a comparative approach to assess the implementation of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS), salient aspects of Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 (BSA) i.e. on evidence, a cornerstone in adjudicating guilt, widened scope of 'documents' and 'evidence,' facilitated by the introduction of comprehensive definitions. Ramifications of the procedural changes introduced by the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS) on investigation of crime by police officers, and infusion of ICT tools which has practical implications for the functioning of the judiciary and law enforcement agencies was also held.

The programme raised awareness about the positive impact of new criminal laws on women and children in the country, and also reinforced the collective goal of upholding justice and legal integrity in light of the newly enacted laws.