Chhattisgarh Poised to Lead Digital Justice Reforms with Effective Implementation of New Criminal Laws
Raipur, August , 2026/Describing the new criminal laws as a historic milestone in India’s judicial reforms, Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai today said that the legislation has fundamentally transformed the justice delivery system by making it faster, more transparent, accessible and citizen-centric. He said the primary objective of the new legal framework is not merely to punish offenders but to ensure timely, transparent and affordable justice for every citizen through the effective use of technology and scientific evidence.
Addressing the State-Level Workshop on “Strengthening Digital Justice” in Raipur today, Chief Minister Shri Sai said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, nearly 150-year-old colonial criminal laws have been replaced with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, ushering in a new era of citizen-focused justice.
Shri Sai said the earlier laws were enacted at a time when digital technology, CCTV surveillance, electronic records and modern forensic science did not exist. With the nature of crime evolving rapidly, technology has become indispensable to the justice system. The new laws, he said, accord legal recognition to digital evidence, CCTV footage, mobile chats, electronic records and scientific forensic investigation, significantly strengthening criminal investigation and prosecution.
Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai further said that the proposed branch of the National Forensic Sciences University in Chhattisgarh would provide a major boost to criminal investigation and judicial processes. He noted that the e-Sakshya platform is playing a crucial role in the secure preservation and authentication of electronic evidence.
Highlighting the impact of digital transformation, Shri Sai said that judicial processes have become significantly faster and more efficient. While serving summons earlier took several days, e-Summons now enables instant delivery along with digital tracking. The Nyaya Shruti platform, he said, is facilitating secure digital recording of court proceedings while strengthening online and hybrid hearings.
Chief Minister said the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) has digitally connected police stations across the country, enabling instant access to criminal records and faster police action. He informed that all police stations in Chhattisgarh are now functioning online and 1,97,547 FIRs have so far been registered digitally in the State. Citizens are also being provided digitally signed copies of FIRs through electronic means.
He further said the Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) has established secure digital coordination among the judiciary, police, prosecution, prisons and other related institutions, enabling faster information sharing and significantly reducing delays in judicial proceedings.
According to Shri Sai, the new criminal laws have simplified the justice delivery process, reduced procedural complexities and made justice more transparent and cost-effective. Paperwork has been minimised while better outcomes are being achieved with available resources. He added that the laws are proving particularly effective in tackling emerging challenges such as cybercrime. In this direction, the State Government has established nine new cyber police stations and launched extensive public awareness campaigns.
