Leh, June 30: A one-day workshop on three new criminal laws was organized by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) Leh, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, at the Conference Hall of the DC Office Leh today. The workshop focused on the newly passed laws – ‘Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita’ (BNSS) 2023, ‘Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita’ (BNS) 2023, and ‘Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam’ (BSA) 2023, which will come into effect from July 1, 2024. These laws repeal the British-era Indian Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure, and the Indian Evidence Act, respectively.
The event was presided over by ADDC Leh, Sh. Sonam Norbu, with Sh. Mohammad Shafi Lassu, President of the Bar Association Leh, serving as the expert speaker. Director of Central Bureau of Communication (CBC) J&K and Ladakh, Sh. Ghulam Abbas, was also present.
In his address, Sh. Norbu thanked the PIB for organizing the workshop on such a critical subject. He emphasized the pivotal role of the media in disseminating knowledge about the new laws to the public. Sh. Norbu urged media personnel to work responsibly, ensuring that citizens are well-informed about their rights and the expectations they should have from the law and its enforcers. He encouraged journalists to engage in extensive discussions with legal professionals to simplify legal matters for the public, ensuring that no individual is left uninformed.
Sh. Mohammad Shafi Lassu provided a comprehensive overview of the three new laws, explaining their distinctions from the outdated laws they replace. He highlighted the provisions designed to benefit individuals and enhance the justice delivery system. Sh. Lassu emphasized that the new laws aim to deliver justice rather than to victimize or penalize. Addressing the historical issue of delayed justice, he asserted that the notorious practice of “tareekh pe tareekh” would become obsolete under the new legal framework.
In his welcome address, Sh. Abbas elaborated on the mandate of PIB, describing it as a bridge between the government and the public, facilitated by the media. He stressed the media’s crucial role in educating the masses about the changes in the justice delivery process and highlighted the government’s launch of the Sankalan App, which provides information about the new laws to media personnel and the general public.
Following the technical session, an interactive question-answer round allowed journalists to clarify their doubts with the expert speaker. The attending journalists expressed their gratitude to the PIB for organizing the workshop and expressed a desire for more such informative programs in the future.
The workshop proceedings were conducted by Sh. Khursheed Yousuf, Field Publicity Officer, CBC Udhampur, who also presented the vote of thanks.
