After the three new criminal laws—Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam—came into force on July 1, 2024, the Union home ministry has ramped up its efforts to make the criminal justice system in sync with its vision of reforms that can bring speed, transparency and accountability.
The Union budget reflects the focus by allocating more funds for forensic science capacity building, controlling cybercrime, and boosting the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems to make criminal databases available across police stations and speedy delivery of justice. The focus is also on modernisation of prisons—an issue that has generated international attention— especially after India made attempts to deport accused in money laundering cases prompting some of them like Nirav Modi and Christian Michael to appeal in courts citing poor jail conditions in India.
Upgradation of Central Forensic Science Laboratories, including setting up of National Forensic Data Centre and modernisation of forensic capabilities has got a major boost of Rs 80 crore from Rs 9.67 crore last year. Similarly, the National Forensic Infrastructure Enhancement Scheme has got an increased outlay from nearly Rs 44 crore to Rs 250 crore while Rs 500 crore has been set aside for modernisation of forensic capabilities against Rs 150 crore last year.
The focus is also on DNA centres and research to augment the capacity of the law enforcement agencies in investigating cases making it more scientific, and in turn professional, by allocating funds to the tune of approximately Rs 95 crore against Rs 78 crore last year. This covers administrative expenditure on the Directorate of Forensic Science and Central Forensic Science Laboratories. The provision is also for the modernization of Central Forensic Science Laboratories with emphasis on human resources development and Research and Development Schemes, and the establishment of Regional Forensic Laboratories and DNA Centres.
At the same time, a robust criminal justice system demands not only speedy investigations but also speedy trials and protecting he rights of prisoners as well. The MHA has allocated Rs 5 crore against Rs 1 crore last year for support of poor prisoners in jails. At the same time, the inter-operable justice system (ICJS), which aims to become a national platform for police, e-courts, e-forensic labs, e-prosecution and e-prisons has got an increased outlay of Rs 300.20 crore from Rs 123.10 crore. The proper implementation of the new laws and investigation based on scientific methods are the focus areas for Home Minister Amit Shah who is taking stock of the necessary infrastructure being created within the next five years. The home ministry has conveyed to police forces that the aim is not just to improve the quality of evidence, but to improve conviction rates while safeguarding the rights of both the victim and accused.
