Amit Shah says BNS criminal laws will deliver justice from FIR to Supreme Court in three years

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has promised that the full rollout of India's new criminal laws will ensure cases are resolved within three years, from the filing of a first information report (FIR) all the way to a final decision by the Supreme Court.

Speaking at a conference of cattle rearers in Bhopal, Shah said the reforms would put an end to the notorious court delays that historically plagued the country's legal system, once famously derided for constant postponements, or "tareekh pe tareekh".

The shift to modern justice

The overhaul, which took effect on 1 July 2024, replaced colonial-era codes with three new pieces of legislation: the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA). Shah defended the transition, arguing that British-era laws were designed to sustain colonial rule, whereas the new statutes prioritised protecting the lives and property of Indian citizens.

According to the home minister, the updated framework integrates modern forensic technology into criminal investigations. It also introduces specific provisions to deal with mob lynching, crimes against women, missing children, and terrorism.

"The fundamental principle of these laws is justice, not punishment," Shah said, adding that penalties exist primarily to deter criminals. Once fully active, he claimed, India's criminal justice system would be among the most modern in the world.

Dairy and cooperation targets

The Bhopal event, which included an exhibition on the new laws, also served as a platform for Shah to pitch the government's development record, particularly in the agricultural and dairy sectors. He used the stage to attack the opposition Congress party, claiming it had blocked the creation of a dedicated cooperation ministry for 75 years after independence to the detriment of rural workers.

Shah credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi with establishing the Ministry of Cooperation, a move he said directly benefits dairy farmers by eliminating middlemen from the supply chain. He pointed to a surge in national milk production, which he said rose to 25 crore tonnes over the last decade under the current administration, compared to 14.6 crore tonnes during decades of Congress rule. Daily per capita milk availability in India has also increased from 307 grams in 2013-14 to 485 grams, he added.

During his visit, Shah laid the foundation stone for a Rs 255-crore milk processing plant in Ujjain, which will have the capacity to handle three lakh litres of milk per day, alongside a Rs 17-crore facility for the Bhopal Milk Union.

Environmental and security plans

The home minister also touched on environmental and security targets. Alongside Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, he oversaw an agreement between fertilizer cooperative KRIBHCO and the state's biodiversity board to plant an urban forest in Bhopal.

Shah further announced that the central government is drafting a plan to entirely eradicate drug abuse in Madhya Pradesh by the end of 2029.