India implemented three new criminal laws, namely the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, on July 1, 2024. The legislation seeks to enhance the process of investigations, bolster the rights of victims, and streamline the efficiency of trials. Nevertheless, several experts have expressed apprehensions over possible infringements on civil liberties and the augmentation of police authority.

Potential benefits

1. Victim rights: The laws prioritize safeguarding the rights of victims, which includes measures for compensation and assistance.
2. Transparency: The rules require law enforcement to be transparent, which means they must use video recording during search and seizure operations and digitally monitor cases.
3. Efficiency: The legislation incorporates measures such as specified time constraints for court decisions and formal charges, as well as accelerated inquiries for offences targeting women and children.

The laws prioritize restorative justice, perhaps resulting in more equitable results for victims, offenders, and society.

Possible challenges

1. Civil liberties: The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita increases the maximum term of police detention from 15 days to either 60 or 90 days, depending on the nature of the crime. These circumstances have prompted worries about possible infringements against civil freedoms.
2. Law enforcement authority: According to several attorneys and campaigners, the modifications have the potential to enhance police authority over individuals.
3. Accumulated number of unresolved cases: Certain legal experts express concerns that the alterations may result in a rise in legal disputes and contribute to the accumulation of pending cases in the judicial system.
4. Unrestrained authority: According to several analysts, law enforcement agencies have been granted unrestricted powers without any mechanisms for oversight or control.