Bhopal: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said criminal cases could be disposed of within three years, from the filing of an FIR to proceedings in the Supreme Court, once the country’s new criminal laws are fully implemented.
Shah made the remarks while addressing a state-level conference of cattle rearers in Bhopal. Before the event, he inaugurated an exhibition showcasing the new criminal law framework.
According to Shah, the new system is expected to become fully operational in about one and a half years. He said that after its complete implementation, cases would be handled within a fixed three-year period from the registration of an FIR through the various stages of the judicial process up to the Supreme Court.
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with the other new criminal laws, replaced the earlier criminal-law framework in 2024. Shah said the reforms were intended to make the justice system more focused on delivering justice rather than simply imposing punishment.
He also spoke about the delays that have historically affected the criminal justice system and said the situation had improved. Shah described the new laws as an effort to modernise the way criminal cases are investigated and prosecuted.
The Home Minister said the new framework also places greater emphasis on technology and scientific investigation. The reforms include provisions dealing with areas such as electronic FIRs, forensic investigation and crimes against women and children.
Shah said the changes would eventually make India’s criminal justice system one of the most modern in the world. His three-year timeline, however, was presented as an outcome expected after the new system is fully implemented, rather than as a current deadline applicable to every criminal case.
The minister was speaking at the Bhopal event attended by cattle rearers, where he also discussed dairy development and the role of cooperatives in supporting the sector.
