New Delhi, Aug 29 (FN Bureau) Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan stressed the requirement for contemporary and relevant jurisprudence for law enforcement agencies to break the shackles of colonialism and to address the evolving nature of crime. The Home Secretary attended the event of Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D), which celebrated its 54th Foundation Day at its headquarters here on Wednesday, an official statement said. Present on the occasion were Director Intelligence Bureau, Tapan Kumar Deka, Heads of Central Police Organisations (CPOs) and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), and senior officials of MHA. The Home Secretary, while delivering Dr Anand Swarup Gupta Memorial Lecture on the theme “New Criminal Laws – Citizen Centric Reforms,” said that new criminal laws are victim-centric, and the purpose of these laws is to give justice, not punishment. He highlighted various key features and new provisions of the laws, especially those related to citizen-friendly measures such as zero FIR and e-FIR, the introduction of community service as a new form of punishment, and more lenient treatment of first time offenders.
He said that many new provisions, such as the introduction of organised crime and terrorism; introduction of new penalties; emphasis on tackling offences against women and children; greater scientific approach towards evidence collection and processing, have also been introduced. Mohan said that in order for India to become the third largest economy in the world, effective policing, law and order, and effective action against crimes and criminals are necessary. He said that the role of BPR&D in police modernisation and upgrading paramount importance. Congratulating the Bureau, Mohan emphasised its importance as the only Central Police Organisation that connects all other police organisations and State/UT police forces through its role as the Think Tank of the Indian police. He especially applauded the great efforts towards training and publicity made by BPR&D for the implementation of the New Criminal Laws, which have resulted in training of more than nine lakh stakeholders across the spectrum of criminal justice system.