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30 Jun 2025 : A year later — colonial-era laws to new criminal codes

 Editorial 2: A year later — colonial-era laws to new criminal codes

Context

Technology has been helpful, but getting feedback from investigating officers (IOs) is important, as they play a key rolein using these tools effectively.

 

Introduction

It has been almost a year since the three new criminal laws came into effect, replacing the old British-era laws. Last year, the central government replaced the Indian Penal Code with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) with the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 with the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA).

  • Policemen are slowly getting familiar with the new laws and their provisions.
  • Most First Information Reports (FIRs) are now registered using the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS), which is a key part of the Inter-operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS).
  • A smooth transition from the old laws to the new laws is essential, especially at the police station level.
  • Zero FIRs are now being sent to the correct police stations within the same State through the CCTNS.
  • The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) deserves credit for this achievement.
  • A major improvement in policing is the introduction of the ‘e-Sakshya’ mobile app, which helps collect and save evidence in real time.
  • This app was developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) in collaboration with the MHA.
  • The NIC is also responsible for running the ICJS, which links police, forensic labs (FSLs), prosecution, jails, and courts.
  • While shifting to the new laws is mostly a technical process, the ‘e-Sakshya’ app is creating a real impact in everyday policing.
  • Feedback from investigating officers (IOs), who are leading the implementation of the new laws, is very important.

Mandatory recording of pictures and videos

  • The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) makes it mandatory for investigating officers (IOs) to record certain steps using audio-video tools. In some cases, using such tools is optional.
  • The ‘e-Sakshya’ app supports six key provisions of the BNSS, including:
    • Section 105: Recording search and seizure through audio-video means.
    • Section 185: Recording search by a police officer.
    • Section 176: Videography of the scene of crime.
    • Section 173: Recording statements of witnesses.
    • Section 180: Another provision for recording statements.
    • Section 497: Handling custody and disposal of property during trial.
  • Though trials under the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for serious crimes are still going on, IOs are already finding the ‘e-Sakshya’ app useful.
  • The app allows them to take photos and videos on the spot, with location (geo-coordinates) and time stamps, making the process transparent.
  • For the public, this brings more trust in how search and seizure operations are done.
  • Capturing witnesses on video ensures they can’t later deny being present at the crime scene.
  • The app also prevents IOs from informally sending subordinates to conduct investigations on their behalf.
  • The ‘selfie’ feature in the app acts as a check, improving the accountability and quality of investigation.
  • As per Section 176 of BNSS, a forensic expert must visit the crime scene, and this rule is helping improve evidence collection.
  • Though the forensic system hasn't changed much in the past year, IOs now ensure the presence of an FSL expertat the scene.
  • The use of police dogs at crime scenes is also helping in tracking suspects.
  • The government’s plan to set up a Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) and a National Forensic Science University (NFSU) in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, announced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, will further strengthen forensic infrastructure.

 

Pending Challenges in Implementation

  • Despite progress, more improvements are still needed in using the ‘e-Sakshya’ app effectively.
  • Photos and videos captured through the app are stored in Sakshya Lockers on the National Government Cloud (NGC).
  • However, courts are not yet directly accessing this evidence through the Inter-operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS).
  • Investigating Officers (IOs) often copy data via CCTNS and submit it using pen drives or other devices, along with the final case report.
  • While this doesn't affect the authenticity of the evidence, it leads to duplicate work and unnecessary spending on storage devices.

 

Device & Access Issues

  • Many IOs still use their personal mobile phones for capturing evidence.
  • Those without Android phones (Version 10 or higher) had to purchase new phones, as the app needs at least 1 GB of storage.
  • Some police stations have received only one tablet, which is not enough since there are multiple IOs per station.

 

Functionality Limits in the App

  • Each video can be up to 4 minutes, but there is no limit on the number of videos that can be captured.
  • If an FIR is linked, poor-quality images/videos cannot be deleted or re-recorded.
  • If an FIR is not linked, the media can be deleted and re-captured, but only five Sakshya IDs (SIDs) can be generated offline.
  • In offline mode, data must be uploaded once in network range to free up space for new evidence.

 

Reluctance of the Accused & Practical Difficulties

  • Accused persons often hesitate to be recorded when showing spots where weapons or drugs are hidden.
  • Despite such hesitation, ‘e-Sakshya’ is proving to be a game-changer in ensuring better investigations and stronger convictions.

 

Legal Safeguards and Technical Gaps

  • The app generates a hash value (via SHA256) and a certificate to validate secondary electronic evidence.
  • However, in cybercrime cases, expert opinion is required for handling electronic seizures.
  • Some State Forensic Labs, like the one in Chhattisgarh, are yet to be notified under the IT Act, delaying the setup of cyber forensic labs.

 

Ambiguities in Registration of Offences

  • Under Section 303(1) of the BNS, thefts below ₹5000 are often not treated as cognisable offences due to unclear wording.
  • On the other hand, petty organised crimes (e.g., gambling) are being registered under Section 112, even though the definition is vague and open-ended.

 

Use of Technology for Evidence and Medical Reports

  • Section 530 of BNSS allows evidence and witness examination (including IOs) via video conferencing, but this is not yet widely used.
  • IOs are happy with the seven-day deadline for medical exam reports of rape survivors under Section 184 of BNSS.
  • However, they still face delays in getting post-mortem reports on time.
  • The MedLEaPR system (by NIC Haryana) is under testing in Chhattisgarh, aiming to enable faster digital transmission of medical and post-mortem reports to the police via CCTNS.

Conclusion

Since all States and Union Territories are now following the new laws, it is important to get feedback to check how easy they are to use and fix any problems faced by investigating officers (IOs) and legal issues in courts. Also, more money and support should be given for forensics and technology. This will help ensure that IOs don’t have to use their own phones or devices for work and that every district has its own mobile forensic lab unit.