{"id":110679,"date":"2026-07-01T11:45:14","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T06:15:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=110679"},"modified":"2026-07-01T11:45:14","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T06:15:14","slug":"criminal-justice-system-push","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/criminal-justice-system-push\/","title":{"rendered":"Criminal Justice System Digital Push &#8211; ICJS Rollout Targeted by 2027"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Criminal Justice System Latest News<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Union Home Ministry has said that from January 1, 2027, procedures related to investigations and trials under the new criminal laws will be recorded digitally through the Interoperable Criminal Justice System.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Interoperable Criminal Justice System<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Interoperable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) is a <\/span><b>national digital platform<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> designed to connect the key pillars of the criminal justice system on a single network. It seeks to integrate:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Police<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Courts<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prisons<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Forensic laboratories<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prosecution<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The objective is to create an end-to-end digital workflow so that criminal cases can move more efficiently from FIR registration to investigation, chargesheet filing, trial, and final disposal.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The data under this system is being stored on <\/span><b>MeghRaj<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the Government of India\u2019s cloud platform.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This digital push has gained importance after the implementation of the three new criminal laws on July 1, 2024:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) replacing the Indian Penal Code<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) replacing the Code of Criminal Procedure<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bharatiya Sakshya Sanhita (BSS) replacing the Indian Evidence Act<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These new laws require stronger digital systems, better forensic support, and smoother coordination among institutions.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>News Summary<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Union Home Ministry has indicated that India\u2019s criminal justice system is moving toward a full digital rollout by January 1, 2027, when procedures related to all investigations and trials under the new criminal laws are expected to be recorded digitally.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A senior official said the nationwide implementation of ICJS is nearing completion, but the available data also reveal major gaps in actual performance.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>FIR Transmission Still Weak<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Data maintained by the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/national-crime-records-bureau\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>National Crime Records Bureau<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (NCRB) show that only 46% of FIRs were digitally transmitted to courts.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This process, called FIR consumption by courts, reflects whether cases are electronically shared and received by the judicial system.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since this is less than half of all registered cases, it shows that the digital chain remains incomplete.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Large Number of Cases Under New Laws<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since the new laws came into effect:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">74.66 lakh FIRs have been filed under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">63,572 zero-FIRs have been registered under the BNSS<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zero-FIRs are complaints that can be filed regardless of jurisdiction, and later transferred to the police station concerned.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Of these, around 13,000 were filed in different districts of the same state and classified as intra-state transfers.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Home Ministry official clarified that police cannot refuse to register a zero-FIR.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once registered, the concerned police station can decide whether to close the case after inquiry or continue with the investigation.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Crime and Criminal Tracking and Network Systems<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">FIRs are being filed through the <a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/crime-and-criminal-tracking-networks-and-systems-cctns\/\" target=\"_blank\">Crime and Criminal Tracking and Network Systems<\/a> (CCTNS) platform, which operates across 16,000 police stations.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The platform allows case registration in 23 languages, and the Bhashini App can translate zero-FIRs into the language used in the jurisdiction where the case is transferred.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>State-Level Progress<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Of the 36 States and Union Territories Haryana, Goa, Assam, Punjab and Chandigarh have implemented all parameters of the criminal justice digitisation system.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition, 23 States and UTs, including Delhi, are above the national average.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The official noted that some northeastern States are lagging mainly because of connectivity issues.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Forensic Expansion<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The new criminal laws make forensic examination of crime scenes mandatory in offences punishable with seven years or more. To support this:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The number of forensic laboratories increased from 129 in 2023 to 154 in 2025<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">25 new forensic laboratories were added in two years<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More than 700 mobile forensic units have been deployed<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The numbers also show rising forensic demand:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2023, forensic labs received 8,44,589 cases, with 4,64,879 pending<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2025, cases received rose to 11,11,798, with 3,90,786 pending<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This means capacity has improved, but demand on forensic systems is also growing rapidly.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Improvement in National Implementation Score<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The national implementation score under the new laws increased from:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">46.47% in January 2025<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To 70.06% in June 2026<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other improvements include:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">60-day chargesheet compliance rising from about 51% to 67%<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">90-day chargesheet compliance rising from about 40% to 61%<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">46.5 lakh digital evidence (Sakshya) IDs generated<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">56.74 lakh e-summons served<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Size of the National Police Database<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As of May 31, 2026, the national police database held 37.68 crore police records, including 9.9 crore FIRs &amp; 7.64 crore chargesheets.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These records can be accessed by police and investigating agencies, making the system a major national repository of criminal justice data.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Key Challenges Ahead<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Improving internet connectivity, especially in remote and north-eastern regions<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Standardising processes across states and UTs<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ensuring full interoperability among police, court, prison, prosecution, and forensic systems<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Training personnel to work with digital platforms effectively<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Significance<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This digital transition is significant because it aims to replace fragmented, paper-based procedures with an integrated, real-time criminal justice process. If implemented properly, it could:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Speed up investigations<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reduce delays in chargesheets and trials<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Improve evidence handling<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Strengthen coordination among justice institutions<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Make the system more transparent and traceable<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At the same time, the low FIR transmission rate and uneven implementation across states show that the digital transition is still incomplete.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The real test will be whether the system becomes genuinely interoperable and reliable in everyday practice, not just in design.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Source:<\/b> <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/criminal-justice-systems-digital-push-aims-for-a-full-roll-out-by-next-year\/article71166359.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">TH<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>India aims for full digital rollout of its criminal justice system by 2027 through ICJS, integrating police, courts, prisons, forensics, and prosecution under the new criminal laws.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":110777,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[8415,60,22,59],"class_list":{"0":"post-110679","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-upsc-mains-current-affairs","8":"tag-criminal-justice-system","9":"tag-mains-articles","10":"tag-upsc-current-affairs","11":"tag-upsc-mains-current-affairs-tag","12":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/110679","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=110679"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/110679\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":110765,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/110679\/revisions\/110765"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/110777"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=110679"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=110679"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=110679"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}