Criminal legislations come into force from July

Panaji: Allegations against police of tampering with evidence or influencing witnesses will be a thing of the past with implementation of three newly-enacted criminal laws, said Inspector General of Police (IGP) Omvir Singh Bishnoi on Wednesday.

Bishnoi was speaking during a media workshop on the legislations of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, which will come into force from July 1.

“Earlier, we did not have a robust digital evidence recording and presentation before the court. Allegations have always been made against police that they have tampered with witnesses. The defence advocates say this in every case,” said Bishnoi.

He said, “When there is a digital record, it will have time and place mentioned, and immediately it will be frozen in the digital locker. A copy of it with the time and location will immediately be submitted before the court.”

With this system in place under the new laws, Bishnoi hoped there will not be any allegations against the police. “I am confident that judiciary will appreciate this kind of evidence,” he said.

The IGP also said that with the new laws coming into force from July 1, there will be restrictions on the number of adjournments wherein advocates, either of defence or prosecution, will not be able to ask for more than three adjournments.

With regard to trials against criminals who flee the country or state, Bishnoi said there are provisions in the new laws wherein the trials can be undertaken without the presence of such criminals. “Even in case of proclaimed offenders not appearing in the court, their trials will continue in their absence and the court can give verdict in the case,” he said.

The programme was organised in Panaji by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, in coordination with the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India and the Goa Union of Journalists (GUJ).