Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday announced that the state will completely roll out the new criminal laws within the next six months. The decision follows a high-level review meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah at North Block, where the progress of implementation was assessed.
Addressing reporters, Fadnavis highlighted that 90% of Maharashtra’s police force (2 lakh personnel) has already been trained in the new legal framework. Additionally, 27 forensic vans have been deployed to enhance forensic infrastructure for cases older than seven years.
“We have established online systems for courts, but under the new provisions, dedicated and designated cubicles need to be set up in courts and forensic labs. We have started working on this, and it will be completed in the next six months,” Fadnavis stated. He also mentioned that cases will now be heard via video conferencing, reducing the need for accused individuals to be physically presented in court.
The three new criminal laws—Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023; Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023; and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), 2023—aim to modernize India’s legal system by replacing colonial-era laws. The reforms, envisioned under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, shift the focus from punishment to ensuring justice.