Technological Integration Central to Modern Justice Delivery, Says CJ

Hyderabad:Telangana High Court Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh on Thursday called for sustained coordination among the judiciary, police, prosecution, prisons, forensic and other agencies for effective digital implementation of the new criminal laws — BNS, BNSS and BSA.

Addressing a conference on ‘New Criminal Laws Strengthening the Criminal Justice System through Digital Platforms’, Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh said, “Justice is the collective achievement of institutions working in harmony; a criminal case begins with registration and moves through investigation, forensics, prosecution and adjudication, making every link important.”

“Judges of the High Court and heads of all institutions are part of the criminal justice system, with the larger goal of creating a more efficient, transparent criminal justice system through discussions on identifying bottlenecks and building a shared understanding, Aparresh said.

He further said that new laws make institutional coordination and technological integration central to modern justice delivery, requiring every stakeholder to understand not only its own role but also the challenges faced by others.

The Chief Justice underscored that the conference should be the beginning of sustained institutional partnership, not a one-time deliberation, with the ultimate measure of success being greater public confidence in a fair, efficient, accessible and responsive justice system.

The conference — conducted in hybrid mode — was organised by Telangana State Judicial Academy, in collaboration with the Telangana police. It was attended by around 1,200 judicial officers and officials from the prosecution, police, prisons, forensic and health departments across the state.

Telangana State Judicial Academy president Justice Moushumi Bhattacharya emphasised greater coordination among stakeholders and better use of digital platforms for effective implementation of the new criminal laws. She said the conference would benefit judicial officers, police personnel and other stakeholders across the country.

She stressed that technology should simplify workflows rather than create additional layers of work. Justice Bhattacharya said duplicate data entry and incomplete information were causing avoidable delays in the criminal justice process.

She advised investigating officers to avoid incorrect coding while uploading information from police stations, as errors often delayed scrutiny by the prosecution.

Director-General of Police C.V. Anand emphasised seamless implementation of the new criminal laws, saying they were not merely a replacement for the earlier statutes but represented a significant shift towards citizen-centric justice, scientific investigation, digital evidence, electronic records and time-bound procedures.

He stressed better supervision, accurate and complete digital data updation, timely investigation and effective utilisation of digital platforms.

The conference was divided into three technical sessions, during which officers from participating institutions made presentations and shared practical challenges, experiences and solutions.

The sessions covered ICJS, e-Sakshya, online consumption of FIRs and charge sheets, e-Summons, mandatory investigation timelines, court evidence through video conference, Nyaya Sanhitha timelines, Nyaya Shruthi module, forensic and medical interfaces, prison administration, coordination between investigating and prosecuting agencies and other digital workflows.

The DGP requested the judiciary to consider establishing a coordination mechanism under the chairmanship of a Telangana High Court judge for monthly reviews of the implementation of the new criminal laws.

High Court judges Justice Vijaya Sena Reddy and Justice Madhavi Devi, NCRB and MHA official Prashun Gupta, TGSFLC director Shikha Goel, Jails DG Soumya Mishra, Telangana State Judicial Academy principal Sreedevi, directors of prosecution and other senior officials participated in the conference.