New criminal laws mark shift from punishment to justice: HM Amit Shah

Jaipur : The Union Home Minister Amit Shah today stated that the three newly enacted criminal laws signify a transformative shift in India’s criminal justice system—moving the focus from punishment to delivering justice.
He affirmed that the laws have been precisely rolled out across the country, with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) actively guiding all states to ensure effective enforcement and follow-up.
He highlighted the historic significance of replacing colonial-era laws—drafted by the British Parliament to safeguard their rule—with legislation crafted by Indians, passed in the Indian Parliament, and intended to serve the Indian people.
Shah was speaking after inaugurating a state-level exhibition on new criminal laws in Jaipur, Rajasthan. He performed the ground-breaking for investment proposals worth Rs four lakh crore. Besides, he also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of various development projects of the Rajasthan Government.
The Home Minister said, “In the new criminal laws, a separate chapter has been added for crimes against women and children. Provisions have been made for e-FIR and zero FIR, videography has been made mandatory for all seizures, and forensic investigation has been made compulsory for offenses carrying a punishment of more than seven years”.
He said that in Rajasthan, the conviction rate was 42 percent, which has increased to 60 percent within just one year of implementing these laws. He expressed confidence that once these laws are fully implemented, this rate will rise from 60 percent to as high as 90 percent.
“In the new criminal laws, terrorism, mob lynching, organised crime and digital crime have been defined for the first time in India’s judicial system. These laws specify time limits in more than 29 different provisions,” he said.
He further said that a provision for trial in absentia has also been introduced to ensure punishment for offenders who have fled the country. He described the introduction of three new criminal laws as the biggest reform of the 21st century in India. He said that after the full implementation of these laws, India’s criminal justice system will become the most modern criminal justice system in the world.
Shah said that today, a ground-breaking ceremony for investment proposals worth Rs four lakh crore was held. He said that the Bhajan Lal Sharma government of Rajasthan has successfully implemented Rs 7 lakh crore worth of MoU out of the Rs 35 lakh crore signed.
He said that through this achievement, various projects will create employment opportunities for the youth of the state. He added that today, development projects worth Rs 9,315 crore have also been launched.
He slammed the Opposition government, accusing it of engaging in corruption in students’ uniforms.
He further said that the Bhajan Lal government, on the other hand, sent Rs 260 crore via DBT for 47,000 students. He highlighted that over five lakh milk producers in Rajasthan have been given a subsidy of Rs 364 crore to boost milk production.
The Home Minister also stated that the Modi government has decided to procure 100 percent of tur, masoor and urad pulses at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) from farmers registered with NAFED and NCCF.
Highlighting the potential in Rajasthan, Shah noted that while urad is already cultivated in the state, tur can also be grown there. He urged farmers to register with the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) and the National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation (NCCF) to benefit from assured procurement.
Shah emphasised that increasing domestic production of pulses and oilseeds is crucial for making India self-reliant in these sectors.