All local dailies, each carrying the picture of Chief Minister Champai Soren, have published advertisements on the new criminal laws 2023 which came into force on July 1, 2024. 

These advertisements, sponsored by the Information and Public Relations Department of the government of Jharkhand, have a common text, show casing the key features of the new criminal laws. 

Alongside, all 17,500 police stations in the country, including all police stations in Jharkhand, are holding a special event today to make people aware of these laws.

This event involving women, youth, students, senior citizens and eminent personalities sought to apprise them of the main features of the new criminal laws.  

The new laws -- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023 and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023 -- has come into effect from now onwards. 

These laws have replaced the British-era Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure and the Indian Evidence Act respectively. 

As per the plan of the Union Home Ministry, the officer-in-charge of each police station in all states and Union Territories are reportedly busy highlighting the key features of the new criminal laws. 

The programme at the police station or a suitable place has covered women, youth, students, senior citizens, retired police officers, eminent personalities and members of self-help groups, Anganwadi centres and local peace committee and also educational institutions like schools, colleges, etc.  

According to data of the Police Organizations compiled by the Bureau of Police Research & Development (BPR&D), there are over 17,500 police stations in the country. 

All higher education institutions under the University Grants Commission (UGC), All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) as well as in the states and UTs are reportedly organising a day-long activities Sunday so that it lays focus on group discussions, workshops, seminars on various provisions of new criminal laws, highlighting the major transformation intended to achieve the ends of justice. 

Notably, the Zero FIR, registration of police complaints online, summons through electronic modes and mandatory videography of crime scenes of all heinous crimes are the key highlights of the three new criminal laws. 

The Union home ministry has a plan to post the three new criminal laws from next week with 40 lakh grassroots functionaries trained to ensure people are aware of the legislations and the impact these will have on everyone, particularly women and children, The Indian Express has quoted “ official sources” as saying.