New Criminal Laws Replace CrPC and IPC Nationwide; Awareness Sessions Held in Patna

Garshiya Garg

Patna: With the implementation of three new criminal laws today, the CrPC and IPC have been officially replaced across the country. To educate both police personnel and the public about these changes, seminars were organised in various police stations in Patna. At the Kotwali police station, the seminar saw participation from both police officers and citizens. City SP Chandra Prakash instructed officers to ensure their department-issued login passwords are up to date, emphasizing that “all deficiencies should be rectified without delay to avoid any future issues.”

At the Kotwali Police Station, Station Head Rajan Kumar highlighted the public-oriented nature of the new laws, noting that FIRs can now be filed digitally, eliminating the need for physical presence at police stations. Complaints can be submitted via WhatsApp or other digital platforms, and Zero FIRs can be registered at any police station, regardless of jurisdiction. PSI Sangeeta Kumari emphasized that the new criminal laws are in the public interest, while local resident Vijay Dubey expressed relief at the simplification of the laws, especially the improvements in Zero FIR. However, Shahabuddin felt that the changes were superficial and stressed the need for better police-public relations.

Patna Central SP Chandra Prakash and Rural SP Roshan Kumar provided details about the new laws, emphasizing the transparency and convenience they bring. They mentioned that seminars were being conducted at almost all police stations in Patna, with public participation. From midnight tonight, FIRs will be registered under the new sections. The first FIR under the new laws was registered at Patna’s Pirbahore police station for a stolen motorcycle, while the second was at the Secretariat police station for a stolen scooter, as confirmed by the respective station heads.

Senior Officer Sanjay Singh from the Police Headquarters mentioned that similar programs were held in all 1,300 police stations across the state, inviting local citizens to learn about the key features of the new criminal laws. Female police officers informed attendees, especially women and children, about the relevant provisions. Under Section 37 of the Indian Citizen Security Code, 2023, police control rooms have been established at the Police Headquarters and in each police district. Designated officers will maintain records of arrested individuals and their offenses, displayed at district headquarters and police stations. Additionally, forensic experts have been appointed, and a 24/7 control room has been set up at the State Forensic Science Laboratory in Patna. For convenience, citizens can contact forensic experts for crime scene inspections using the control room’s phone number and toll-free number.