Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasized the citizen-first approach behind the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), highlighting their role in empowering citizens and ensuring timely justice. Speaking on the transformative impact of the reforms, PM Modi underlined how the laws are reshaping India’s criminal justice system to be more efficient, accessible, and humane.
The BNS and BNSS aim to simplify and modernize India’s outdated legal procedures, ensuring that the justice system not only safeguards the rights of citizens but also promotes their dignity and well-being.
Streamlined Legal Process: Empowering the Common Citizen
In his address, PM Modi stressed how the BNS simplifies the process of filing FIRs, ensuring that citizens can easily approach law enforcement without facing bureaucratic delays. By cutting down on procedural red tape, the new law guarantees that the justice system works faster and more efficiently.
“The BNS gives power to every citizen to seek justice promptly. No more delays or complex processes—this law makes it easier to get a fair hearing,” said PM Modi.
Safeguarding Victim Rights
The reforms also prioritize the rights of victims, ensuring that they are treated with dignity and respect throughout the legal process. According to PM Modi, the BNS offers clear provisions to guarantee the protection of victims of crime, making the system more responsive to their needs and ensuring their voices are heard.
“Victims deserve to be heard and supported, and the BNS ensures their rights are prioritized. This system is designed to make victims feel secure, supported, and empowered in their pursuit of justice,” said the Prime Minister.
Restricting Arbitrary Arrests and Introducing Humane Alternatives
The BNS also introduces provisions that restrict arbitrary arrests and reduce the risk of unlawful detentions. PM Modi highlighted that the reforms are designed to protect individual freedom, ensuring that citizens are not wrongfully detained and that due process is followed in all cases.
In a move that marks a shift towards restorative justice, the BNS includes provisions for community service as an alternative to jail time for first-time offenders. PM Modi noted that this approach aims to rehabilitate rather than punish, offering individuals a chance to reintegrate into society with dignity.
“Restorative justice ensures that first-time offenders are given a second chance to improve themselves through community service. This reflects the humane and empowering nature of our legal system,” PM Modi said.
Releasing Unjustly Detained Prisoners
The BNS has also facilitated the release of thousands of prisoners who had been unjustly detained under outdated and colonial-era laws. PM Modi pointed out that many of these individuals had been trapped in the legal system due to outdated laws, and the new reforms offer them relief and freedom.
“These laws have set thousands of unjustly detained prisoners free, giving them a chance to rebuild their lives. This is a clear example of how BNS works to ensure justice for every citizen, irrespective of their past circumstances,” the Prime Minister explained.
A New Era for the Indian Justice System
PM Modi reiterated that the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita represent a decisive departure from India’s colonial-era laws, which were often outdated, complex, and inapplicable to modern times. These new laws are tailored to India’s present-day needs, placing citizens at the center of the justice system.
“We are not just reforming laws, we are transforming the justice system to make it people-centric. The BNS and BNSS are built on the principles of justice, fairness, and human dignity,” PM Modi said.
Timely Justice and Fairness
The Prime Minister highlighted that timely justice is one of the cornerstone principles of the new laws. Through expedited procedures and a more streamlined approach to legal processes, BNS and BNSS aim to reduce delays and ensure that verdicts are delivered swiftly, ensuring justice is served without unnecessary hold-ups.
“The reforms ensure that justice is delivered on time and that no one has to endure unnecessary delays in seeking redress. We are committed to building a system that is responsive, fair, and just for all citizens,” PM Modi added.
A Humane, Empowering Legal Framework
Ultimately, PM Modi emphasized that the new laws are not just about improving the legal framework, but about creating a justice system that is empowering and humane. These laws are meant to provide protection, support, and justice to every citizen, especially the vulnerable, ensuring that the system works in their favor and uplifts them.
“With the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and BNSS, we are building a justice system that empowers citizens, upholds their rights, and ensures that they are treated with dignity and respect,” concluded PM Modi.
Conclusion: A Justice System That Serves the People
In summary, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita reforms signal a new era for the Indian justice system. By focusing on timely justice, victim rights, empowerment, and restorative approaches, the laws mark a major shift in how India approaches criminal justice, ensuring a system that truly serves the needs of its citizens. Through these changes, PM Modi believes the country is moving toward a future where the rule of law is just, accessible, and compassionate for all.
