First FIR Under New Criminal Laws Not Against A Street Vendor, Clarifies Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced on Monday that the first case under the newly enacted criminal justice laws, which came into effect on the same day, was registered for a motorcycle theft in Gwalior.

Shah emphasized that the new legislation prioritizes justice over mere punishment.

Photo Credit: PTI

HM Amit Shah Clarifies First FIR Under New Criminal Laws

He urged opposition parties to refrain from politicizing the new legal code, which replaces outdated British-era statutes, and declared that India now possesses one of the world's most advanced criminal justice systems. Shah assured that justice would be delivered up to the Supreme Court level within three years of filing a First Information Report (FIR).

The new laws-Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA)-replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and Indian Evidence Act, respectively. These laws bring significant changes to the criminal justice system, aligning it with modern societal needs and contemporary crime types.

The BJP has lauded these laws as symbols of India's progress, while senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram criticized the lack of adequate discussion and debate before their implementation. Shah highlighted that justice under the new laws could be accessed up to the Supreme Court level within three years of FIR registration and projected a 90% conviction rate under these laws.

He stated that the new legal framework focuses on ensuring justice rather than punishment, as was the case under colonial laws, and streamlines crime reporting by including provisions for e-FIRs, Zero FIRs, and digital evidence. The first case under the new laws was a motorcycle theft in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, registered just after midnight.

Earlier reports had incorrectly suggested that the first FIR was against a street vendor in New Delhi for public obstruction. Shah clarified that this was not the first FIR under the new laws and that the Delhi Police had dismissed this case after an investigation. Several states have also reported their first cases under the new laws, covering offenses such as theft, cheating, assault, wrongful restraint, and negligent driving.

Shah countered criticisms that the new laws are draconian, arguing that they are modern, protect victims' rights, and hold police accountable. He emphasized that the laws were debated in both Houses and scrutinized by a parliamentary committee, with most opposition suggestions being incorporated, except for those with political bias.

Opposition leaders, including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, have criticized the new laws as an example of "bulldozer justice" imposed without proper legislative process. Some lawyers in West Bengal protested against the new laws by abstaining from judicial work.

Shah detailed that the new legal framework imposes time-bound judicial processes, with deadlines for trials and judgments to eliminate delays. He also noted that the laws include chapters on crimes against women and children, mandating swift action and severe penalties for heinous crimes, such as gang rape of minors.

The new laws consolidate and simplify various legal definitions and provide specific provisions for crimes like false promises of marriage, mob lynching, and chain snatching, which were not adequately covered under the IPC. Overall, the new laws aim to create a more just, transparent, and efficient criminal justice system in India, allowing for electronic reporting of crimes and simplifying the process of filing FIRs across jurisdictions.

Reactions from legal experts have been mixed, with some praising the reforms and others criticizing them as superficial and overly harsh.

(With PTI Inputs)