Assam's conviction rate rises to 66% under new laws

In Assam, the new criminal laws introduced nine months ago have significantly increased the conviction rate. The rate has risen to 66%, which is more than 2.5 times higher than the 25% rate under the previous colonial laws, according to a senior police official. The increase in convictions has been attributed to the use of technology in investigations. Munna Prasad Gupta, Assam Police's Special Director General, noted that the number of hostile witnesses has decreased. Digital evidence is now easier to present in court and is more secure. Videography is now mandatory during searches, making it harder for witnesses to change their testimonies. The introduction of e-summons has also improved transparency in investigations. Under the new laws, known as the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, there are strict requirements that enhance police accountability and efficiency. Gupta stated that the old laws had a conviction rate as low as 6% in 2020. However, it has improved to 25% recently. He believes that the new laws will further increase conviction rates in the coming years, as more cases are tried under these regulations. The new laws set specific time frames for trials, limiting defense adjournments to two. Video conferencing has become common, with around 9,000 undertrials appearing in court this way each month. The Assam Police has also managed to file charge sheets within 60-90 days in about 66% of cases under the new laws. This is an improvement from earlier practices. The government is working to recruit more forensic experts and to develop standard operating procedures for officers. The new laws are designed to be victim-centric, allowing complaints to be filed anywhere, not just at the location of the crime. Recently, the Union Home Minister praised Assam for its timely filing of charge sheets and encouraged other states to adopt similar practices.