1 yr on, how 3 new laws transformed legal system

HOME MINISTRY DATA SAID THAT POLICE HAVE REGISTERED 3.5 MILLION FIRS UNDER BNS BETWEEN JULY 1 LAST YEAR AND JUNE 25, 2025

- Neeraj Chauhan and Prawesh Lama

NEW DELHI: On July 17, 2024, three people, Tarkeshwar Singh (55), an exorcist, and his two minor daughters Chandani (16) and Vibha (15), were stabbed to death in their sleep by Sudhanshu Kumar and his accomplice, Ankit, in Bihar's Saran. Within an hour, the police arrested the two accused and recovered the knife used. Forensic experts collected 18 exhibits including DNA, blood and biological samples from the spot. A charge sheet was filed within 14 days and trial was completed in 50 days, with the court sentencing them to life imprisonment on September 5.

It was the first ever conviction under the new implemented Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) that turns one on Tuesday, July 1.

The new criminal laws, BNS, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and Bharatiya Saksha Adhiniyam (BSA), replaced the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and Indian Evidence Act, the British-era laws that formed the basis of the criminal justice system for over 150 years.

According to data from the ministry of home affairs (MHA), police departments have registered a total of 35,18,544 (3.5 million) first information reports (FIRs) under BNS between July 1 last year till June 25. To be sure, some states and union territories including Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Punjab, Telangana, Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli have not shared the data of cases filed by them with MHA.