Justice, not punishment, will drive India’s legal system: Amit Shah hails new criminal laws

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said that the three new criminal laws mark a historic transformation in India’s justice system, shifting the focus from punishment to fairness and transparency. Speaking at the Jaipur Exhibition and Convention Centre, Shah said the new framework ensures “easy and timely access to justice for all citizens.”

The laws — Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam — came into effect on July 1, 2024, replacing the colonial-era Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, and Indian Evidence Act. Shah described this change as the end of a punitive legal system inherited from the British and the beginning of a justice-oriented model.

The exhibition, inaugurated by Shah, demonstrated the modernized approach to criminal investigation and prosecution under the new laws. According to the minister, these reforms are designed to make justice delivery faster, citizen-centric, and rooted in transparency.

Shah also urged citizens to support the “vocal for local” movement by buying indigenous products, which, he said, would help grow India’s market and strengthen its global manufacturing presence.