Haryana to Implement New Criminal Laws by February 28

• Haryana is expected to become the first state and second after Chandigarh to fully implement the three new criminal laws.

• The new laws mandate digital evidence through compulsory videography of crime scenes and recovery procedures.

• The laws replace the Indian Penal Code, 1860, the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, and the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898.

• The laws require upgrading infrastructure and forensic capabilities, with five years for implementation.

• The new laws overhaul all pillars of the criminal justice system – police, medical, forensics, and judiciary.

• The courts will have to deal with existing and new cases in a time-bound manner.

• The implementation of the laws may take two-four years, but the success rate will be exponential once the inertia is broken.