New Delhi. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said technology will be a key factor in the three new criminal laws that will come into effect from July 1 as summons will be issued through SMS, 90 per cent of witnesses will appear through video calls and courts will pass orders within three years of filing an FIR.
Shah said in an interview to PTI-Bhasha over the weekend, “I can tell you with confidence that after three years our criminal justice system will be the most modern criminal justice system in the world.” Three new laws – Indian Judicial Code, Indian Civil Protection Code and Indian Evidence Act will come into effect from July 1. These will replace the colonial laws – Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure and Indian Evidence Act, 1872.
Shah gave many details about the new criminal justice system for the first time in the interview. He said that all three laws are almost completely technology driven. For example, all court cases will be online and FIRs, court diaries and judgments will also be in digital format. He said that officials have taken fingerprints of nine crore criminals in the country in the last five years.
Shah said that if the crime is committed by a habitual offender, then the police will be able to identify him from the database of finger prints within seven and a half minutes after taking ‘finger prints’ from a crime scene. He said, “We have brought about a big reform (through these criminal laws). After the law comes into effect, 90 percent of the people will not have to go to court. The witnesses will appear online.” The Home Minister said that earlier summons meant that it should be given to someone by going to his house. He said, “Many such changes have been made (in the new laws). The same is true with regard to the charge sheet.” The Home Minister said that earlier the charge sheet meant submitting a large number of documents, but after the new law comes into force, the charge sheet will be in a pen drive and its reply can also be given digitally in a pen drive.
He said, “Now all these cases will be online. FIR, court diary, judgments will also be in digital format. We have made forensic evidence mandatory in cases where there is a provision of minimum seven years imprisonment.” When asked about the preparations for bringing new laws, Shah said that it is going on in full swing and the training of officers is almost over. He said that under the new criminal laws, any person can get orders from the courts, even the Supreme Court, within three years of filing the FIR.
The Home Minister said that he had been working on new criminal laws since taking charge of the Home Ministry in 2019. He said, “We are working to modernize courts and police stations. Everything is happening with the help of technology. The law is being modernized through technology.” President Draupadi Murmu approved the three laws on December 25.
With the end of the electoral bond scheme, the effect of black money on elections will increase, we will have to find an alternative: Shah
Union Home Minister Amit Shah believes that the influence of black money will increase in this Lok Sabha election after the Supreme Court’s decision to cancel the electoral bond scheme. He said that Parliament will have to decide on its alternative. Shah said that if the influence of black money increases, then an alternative should be sought. In an interview to ‘PTI-Bhasha’ on Saturday, he said that the scheme allowing donors to donate to political parties without revealing their identity by buying bonds from the State Bank of India (SBI) was canceled at a crucial time.
The Supreme Court had struck down the scheme in February, a month before the Lok Sabha election schedule was announced.
Responding to a question on this issue, the Home Minister said, “I believe and I guess that this will increase the influence of black money in elections and politics. When political parties submit their accounts for this financial year, it will be known how much money is cash donation and how much has been given by cheque. At the time of the bond scheme, the figure of donations by cheque had reached 96 per cent.”
Shah said, “Now you will know. If the influence of black money increases, then an alternative should be found. There should be a discussion in Parliament.” When the Home Minister was asked if he thinks that the influence of black money will increase in this election due to the end of the electoral bond scheme, he said, “That is my guess.” When he was asked about the alternative to the bond scheme, he said that this issue should be discussed with all stakeholders including various political parties.
Shah said, “This will have to be discussed in Parliament. We will have to consult all the parties. The stand of the Supreme Court is also very important since its decision has come. The Attorney General and Solicitor General will also have to be consulted. So we will have to collectively discuss and decide on a new option.” The Supreme Court, while cancelling the electoral bond scheme, had said that it violates the right to information and the right to freedom of speech and expression under the Constitution.
The apex court had also asked to make public the names of all the people who donated and all the parties who received the amount. However, the central government has said that the aim of the scheme was to reduce the influence of black money in politics.