MHA Republic Day Tableau Highlights New Criminal Laws And Tech Justice

The Union home ministry’s tableau at the 77th Republic Day parade will spotlight India’s shift to a modern criminal justice framework, centred on the nationwide roll-out of three new criminal laws and technology-enabled reforms. The display is designed to present the government’s push for a time-bound, citizen-centric justice system, with tighter integration between policing, forensics, prosecution, courts and prisons.

New Criminal Codes Replace Colonial-Era Laws

The tableau will showcase the operationalisation of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, which replaced the Indian Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Indian Evidence Act. The three laws came into force on July 1, 2024. Officials say the reforms aim to move away from a colonial legacy of punishment and towards an Indian conception of justice, aligned with the broader vision of a developed India.

Digital Evidence And Biometrics Take Centre Stage

Key features include the use of e-Sakshya for digital evidence collection and the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS) for biometric identification. The tableau will also depict e-Summon, enabling courts to issue digitally signed summons electronically, alongside technology-enabled court processes such as virtual hearings. Together, these elements are intended to reduce delays, improve accuracy, and strengthen the chain of custody and admissibility of evidence.

ICJS Integration And Faster On-Ground Response

A core theme is interoperability across agencies through the Inter-operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) framework, reflecting the aim of seamless coordination among police, forensics, prosecution, courts and prisons. The tableau will feature mobile forensic units to represent faster crime-scene response and wider forensic reach. It will also highlight integrated control-room systems, enhanced surveillance infrastructure such as CCTV networks, and the growing field role of trained women police personnel in response units.

Imporatnt Facts for Exams

• The new criminal laws are Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam.
• They replaced the IPC, CrPC and Indian Evidence Act, and came into force on July 1, 2024.
• NAFIS is a national fingerprint identification system used for biometric matching in investigations.
• ICJS focuses on integrating police, courts, prisons, prosecution and forensics through interoperable digital systems.

Accessibility Through Multilingual Legal Texts

The tableau will also present multilingual representations of the new law books, signalling a focus on accessibility, inclusiveness and transparency. By making the reformed legal framework easier to understand across languages, the ministry aims to strengthen citizen awareness and engagement with the justice system while reinforcing trust in procedural reforms.