The Union Ministry of Law and Justice, in association with the Assam Government, has organised a two-day conference, ‘India's Progressive Path in the Administration of Criminal Justice System’, in Guwahati, Assam, on 18th- 19th May 2024. The aim of the conference was to create awareness about the recent changes made by the government in repealing British-era criminal law and the enactment of new laws related to the criminal justice system in the country.

Three new laws related to Criminal Justice System

The recently enacted three laws which seek to overhaul the criminal justice system of the country are as follows:

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, which will replace the Indian Penal Code 1860,
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, which will replace the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, and
Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 which will replace the Indian Evidence Act, 1872.

When will the new Criminal Justice Act be implemented?

The President of India has notified that these three new laws related to the Indian criminal justice system will be implemented on July 1, 2024. Thus to make the legal fraternity and other stakeholders aware of these three laws, the Conference has been organised by the Union Ministry of Law and Justice.

Chief Guest of the Conference

Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarama was the chief guest of the Conference. The Guest of Honour of the Conference was Justice Hrishikesh Roy Judge, the Supreme Court of India, Justice Biswanath Somadder, Chief Justice High Court of Sikkim, and Justice Vijay Bishnoi Chief Justice Gauhati High Court.

Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India and Dr Reeta Vashisth, Member Secretary, Law Commission of India, also attended the Conference.

Judges of various courts, advocates, academicians, representatives of law enforcement agencies, police officials, public prosecutors, district administration officials and law students from the North Eastern States also participated in the Conference.