Ministry of Law and Justice to Hold Conference on India’s Criminal Justice Reforms in Kolkata
The Ministry of Law and Justice is set to host a significant conference titled “India’s Progressive Path in the Administration of Criminal Justice System” in Kolkata tomorrow. This event is part of a series aimed at raising awareness about the new criminal laws set to take effect from July 1, 2024. The conference will take place at ITC Royal Bengal, Haldane Avenue, Kolkata.
The conference follows the President’s assent to three landmark laws on December 25, 2023: “The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023,” “The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023,” and “The Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023.” These laws will replace the long-standing Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, and Indian Evidence Act.
Hon’ble Mr. Justice T. S. Sivagnanam, Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court, will inaugurate the event as the Chief Guest, alongside Hon’ble Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, MoS (I/C) Ministry of Law & Justice. The conference aims to highlight the key features of the new laws through discussions, deliberations, and Q&A sessions.
Attendees will include judges and former judges from various High Courts, advocates, academicians, law enforcement officials, public prosecutors, district administrators, and law students from West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, UP, Jharkhand, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
The inaugural session will introduce the objectives of the new criminal laws, followed by three technical sessions:
- Technical Session-I: Focuses on the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, chaired by Hon’ble Justice Joymalya Bagchi, with panelists including Sh. Shashi Prakash Singh, Prof. Anurag Deep, Sh. Faisal Fasih, and Dr. Biswa Kallyan Dash, moderated by Prof. Vageshwari Deswal.
- Technical Session-II: Discusses the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023, chaired by Hon’ble Justice Ananya Bandopadhyay, with panelists including Sh. Zoheb Hossain, Sh. Amit Prasad, Dr. Sarfaraj Ahmed Khan, and Dr. Shubham Pandey, moderated by Dr. K.A. Pandey.
- Technical Session-III: Examines the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, chaired by Justice Tirthankara Ghosh, with panelists including Sh. Vikramjit Banerjee, Sh. E. Chandresekaran, and Dr. Neeraj Tiwari, moderated by Prof. Mohd. Asad Malik.
The conference will conclude with a valedictory session graced by Hon’ble Governor of West Bengal, Dr. C.V. Ananda Bose, and other distinguished guests including Hon’ble Mr. Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Prof. (Dr.) N.K. Chakrabarti.
This event underscores the Indian Government’s commitment to modernizing its criminal justice system, replacing archaic colonial laws with legislation that aligns with the needs of a dynamic democracy. The conference aims to facilitate a seamless understanding and implementation of these new laws among stakeholders and citizens alike.