Assam Governor attends valedictory ceremony of two day conference on India’s Progressive Path in the Administration of Criminal Justice System
Governor emphasizes new laws’ importance in nation’s progress
Guwahati, Rongili Barta- Assam Governor Shri Gulab Chand Kataria said that criminal justice system and its contribution in expeditious disposal of cases hold the key in the progress of the nation. Speaking at the valedictory function of the two day conference in India’s progressive path in the administration of criminal justice system organized at IIT Guwahati in the wake of enactment of three three laws namely the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023; the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023, the Governor said that these laws have the potential of expediting the development of India along with laying strong foundation for the realization of the vision of Viksit Bharat. The Governor said, “The criminal justice system rooted in the British era is now history. Now, justice takes precedence over punishment. The nation has got a new Nyaya Sanhita based on the principle of ‘Justice First’. This new set of laws will ensure protection of human rights and uphold the rule of law. They will also streamline procedures to reduce delays and enhance the delivery of justice”. Speaking on the new laws, Governor Shri Kataria said, “These laws are embedded with the values of reform, perform and transform. These new acts besides bringing in reform in the legal system will address the contemporary challenges surfaced in view of changing times and societal changes”. He said that the new laws will provide a holistic approach to deal with crimes in the digital age. These new enactments will also lead to expeditious disposal of cases. This would help in clearing the vast backlogs and faster delivery of justice. The Governor said that considering North Eastern Region’s diversities, this new set of laws will help in bringing more inclusive legal practices. The Governor expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Law and Justice for organizing the conference for sharing insights, debating crucial reforms, and shaping the future of legal administration. He also thanked all the participants for their contributions in the conference and requested the stakeholders to work together with the civil society for the success of the laws. It may be noted that the these new laws have replaced the earlier criminal laws namely, the Indian Penal Code 1860, the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872. Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court Hon’ble Mr.Justice Vijay Bishnoi, Judge, Gauhati High Court Hon’ble Mr.Justice Manash Ranjan Pathak; Vice Chancellor(I/C) NLUJA Assam Justice(Retd.) Mir Alfaz Ali; Director, Indian Law Institute, Delhi Prof.(Dr.)V.K.Ahuja; Seretary Dept. of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice Dr.Rajiv Mani also spoke at the valedictory function.