Orientation programme on new criminal laws held
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, August 18 2024:
A two-day orientation programme on the newly introduced criminal laws organised by Manipur State Legal Services Authority (MASLSA) in collaboration with the Department of Law & Legislative Affairs concluded on Sunday at City Convention Centre, here.
The programme inaugurated on Saturday with participation of legal professionals, law enforcement officers, and other stakeholders, had High Court of Manipur chief justice Siddharth Mridul as the chief guest and justices A Guneshwar Sharma and Golmei Gaiphulshillu, special chief secretary MH Khan, and DGP Manipur Rajiv Singh as distinguished guests.
In his address, chief justice Siddharth Mridul emphasised significance of the orientation programme as it focussed on recent changes in criminal laws, namely the "Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita," the "Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita," and the " Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam", which replaced the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and the Indian Evidence Act respectively.
These new laws have been in effect since July 1, 2024 .
While opining that the earlier pre-constitutional laws were outdated and inefficient due to various factors, chief justice Mridul said the new legislations were introduced to ensure efficient and expeditious investigations to facilitate fairer trials, and suitable punishments, marking a significant shift in India's legal landscape.
During the event, justices Guneshwar Sharma and Golmei Gaiphulshillu also highlighted important changes in the new criminal laws, underscoring the government's attempt to modernise the legal framework to better reflect the needs and aspirations of contemporary society.
DGP Rajiv Singh spoke on the necessity of the new laws, pointing out that the old criminal laws introduced during the British period had been in place for more than a century and a half.
He noted that with the rapid evolution of the country post-independence, there was a pressing need for a new set of laws that would align with the aspirations of the Indian population.
He also highlighted major changes incorporated into the new criminal laws, including provisions for audio-video recording of search and seizure operations, introduction of e-FIR provisions, removal of unnecessary arrest provisions, and the provision of zero FIR, among others.
The first day of the programme featured presentations by Family Court, Imphal East judge RK Memcha Devi, and Imphal East district & sessions judge Ningthoujam Lanleima, who spoke on topics such as "Trial Procedure under BNSS" and "Additional Offence under BNS and Objective for the Introduction of BNS." Imphal East judicial magistrate first class Sarungbam Mangaleibi, and judicial magistrate first class, Kakching Neera Sinam, also delivered talks on "Pre-trial Procedure under BNSS" and "Seizure & Preliminary Enquiry under BNSS," respectively.
On the second day, Shruti Jane Eusebius, a research fellow at the National Judicial Academy, Bhopal, addressed the topic "Changes, Developments & Challenges in Terror-Related Offences in the New Criminal Laws," while CDTI, Hyderabad director Rajasekhara N spoke on "Review of BNSS, Addition, Deletions & Modifications".
Legal professionals, including Family Court, Thoubal judge W Tonen Meitei; CJM, Imphal West A Tarunakumari Devi; Manipur Judicial Academy joint director M Manojkumar Singh; and LMS Law College lecturer Ch Momon Singh were moderators of the two-day programme participated by over 400 judicial officers, police officers from various districts, paramilitary forces, public prosecutors, members of the bar, panel advocates, remand advocates, legal aid defence counsels, media persons, and officers from various departments including the home department, law department, forest, customs, NCB, NIA, law colleges, forensic science, and NIELIT.
In an effort to reach a wider audience, the entire programme was live-streamed on YouTube, with the link also published in prominent local newspapers.
The YouTube broadcast generated over 8,000 views, ensuring that other stakeholders and members of the public who could not attend the event in person were still able to benefit from the discussions and insights shared during the two-day event.
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