Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated an exhibition on the three new criminal laws in Sri Vijaya Puram in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, emphasising the government’s push to deliver faster and more reliable justice through technology and forensic reform.
Speaking after the launch, Shah said India is improving delivery of justice with measures such as e‑FIRs, Zero FIRs and an increased reliance on forensic-based evidence under the new legal framework. He urged residents and personnel involved in the justice system in the islands to visit the exhibition to learn how the laws are designed to protect citizens’ rights through timely justice delivery.
criminal law reforms India
The minister also chaired a meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Home Affairs on the Central Forensic Science Laboratory and the National Forensic Sciences University in the islands. At the meeting he outlined plans to expand forensic capabilities across the country and standardise scientific procedures.
“India has achieved global standards in forensic investigation by delivering swift and accurate results and achieving record-breaking high conviction rates, serving fast and flawless justice,” Shah said. He added that the government will set up National Forensic Sciences University campuses in all states by 2029 and is targeting the training of 35,000 forensic experts a year.
The centre has decided to invest Rs 30,000 crore over the next five years to establish a network of forensic laboratories nationwide. The investment is intended to ensure that every state has either a forensic university campus or a Central Forensic Laboratory by 2029, and to remedy the historical lack of nationwide standards in forensic science.
Officials at the meeting included ministers of state for home affairs Nityanand Rai and Bandi Sanjay Kumar, members of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee, the Union Home Secretary, the Vice Chancellor of NFSU and the Director General of the Bureau of Police Research and Development, along with other senior officials.
Analysts say the emphasis on forensic capacity, combined with digital reporting tools such as e‑FIRs and Zero FIRs, aims to shorten investigation timelines and increase the reliability of evidence presented in court. By coupling legal reform with investment in labs and education, the government seeks to reduce case backlogs and improve conviction rates.
The exhibition in Sri Vijaya Puram is part of a wider outreach to familiarise the public and justice-sector personnel with the practical implications of the three new criminal laws. It includes displays on how electronic reporting will work in practice, how forensic evidence will be gathered and preserved, and how victims and citizens can expect timelier redress under the updated procedures.
While the plan to rapidly expand forensic infrastructure has been welcomed by many in law enforcement and legal circles, experts note implementation will be critical. Establishing uniform standards, ensuring quality control across laboratories and integrating forensic outputs with digital case management systems will determine whether the promised gains in speed and accuracy are realised.
For residents of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands the exhibition provides direct access to information on changes that may affect investigations, prosecutions and victims’ rights. For the government, the event serves as a demonstration of a broader national push to modernise the criminal justice system using technology, education and scientific rigour.
Key Takeaways:
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated an exhibition on the three new criminal laws in Sri Vijaya Puram, Andaman and Nicobar.
- The government plans a Rs 30,000 crore investment to build a nationwide forensic laboratory network and expand the National Forensic Sciences University.
- The initiative aims to produce 35,000 forensic experts annually and accelerate use of e‑FIRs, Zero FIRs and forensic-based evidence.
- criminal law reforms India are central to efforts to deliver faster, technology-driven justice.
