The Ministry of Home Affairs has adopted modern technology to enhance the criminal justice system for the implementation of new criminal laws. Key initiatives include the development and deployment of applications such as eSakshya for secure digital evidence management, eSummon for electronic delivery of summons, and NyayaShruti VC for virtual appearances in court proceedings. Integration with the MedLeaPR application facilitates the exchange of medico-legal reports with hospitals. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) has upgraded the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network Systems (CCTNS) application with 23 new functionalities to align with the new criminal laws and has provided these updates to States and Union Territories for deployment. NCRB has also launched the "NCRB Sankalan of Criminal Laws" mobile application, available on Android and iOS, as a comprehensive guide for stakeholders. Furthermore, forensic investigation has been strengthened by mandating forensic expert visits to crime scenes for serious offenses and requiring videography of evidence collection in offenses punishable by 7 years or more, as per the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. These changes aim to improve the speed, efficiency, transparency, and overall effectiveness of the judicial process, fostering a technology-driven and citizen-friendly justice delivery system.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Home Affairs: The Indian government ministry responsible for internal security and law enforcement.
SHRI SATISH KUMAR GAUTAM: A member of Lok Sabha who posed the unstarred question No. 1590.
SHRI BANDI SANJAY KUMAR: Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs who answered the question.
eSakshya: An application developed to enable lawful, scientific and tamperproof collection, preservation and electronic submission of digital evidence.
eSummon: An application that allows summons to be delivered through electronic means.
Nyaya Shruti VC: An application facilitating virtual appearance of accused persons, witnesses, police officials, prosecutors, scientific experts, prisoners etc. through video conferencing.
National Crime Records Bureau NCRB: An Indian government agency responsible for collecting and analyzing crime data.
Crime and Criminal Tracking Network Systems CCTNS: An application used for tracking crime and criminals, being upgraded with new functionalities.
NCRB Sankalan of Criminal Laws: A Mobile App launched by NCRB as a comprehensive guide on new criminal laws for the benefit of all stakeholders.
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023: A new criminal law mandating the videography of evidence collection at crime scenes.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1590
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 29TH JULY, 2025/ SRAVANA 7, 1947 (SAKA)
MODERN TECHNOLOGY IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
†1590. SHRI SATISH KUMAR GAUTAM:
Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether modern technology has been adopted in the criminal justice
system for the implementation of new criminal laws;
(b) if so, the steps taken by the Government to increase the use of
technology in the criminal justice system;
(c) whether the new criminal laws have provision for forensic investigation;
and
(d) the details of the significance of these changes in facilitating timely
justice?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI BANDI SANJAY KUMAR)
(a) to (d): To significantly improve the speed, efficiency and transparency
of the judicial process, applications like e-Sakshya, e-Summon, and Nyaya-
Shruti (VC) have been developed. While the e-Sakshya enables lawful,
scientific and tamper-proof collection, preservation and electronic
submission of digital evidence thus ensuring authenticity and reducing
delays, e-Summon allow summons to be delivered through electronic
means, making the process faster, time-bound and easily trackable.-2-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 1590 FOR 29.07.2025
Nyaya-Shruti (VC) facilitates virtual appearance of accused persons,
witnesses, police officials, prosecutors, scientific experts, prisoners etc.
through video conferencing. Integration with Medico Legal Examination &
Post-mortem Reporting (MedLeaPR) application for exchanging Medico
Legal Reports with Hospitals is also provided for.
National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) has developed software
patches to upgrade Crime and Criminal Tracking Network Systems
(CCTNS) application for providing 23 new functionalities as per the
provision of new criminal laws. These patches have been given to the
States/ UTs for deployment.
NCRB has also launched a Mobile App called ‘NCRB Sankalan of
Criminal Laws’ as a comprehensive guide on new criminal laws for the
benefit of all stakeholders. This Mobile App is available on Android and iOS
platforms.
To strengthen the case and investigations, provisions have been
made for visit of forensic experts to crime scenes for serious offences and
collect evidence in offences which are punishable for 7 years or more.
Additionally, the process of evidence collection at the crime scene to-3-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 1590 FOR 29.07.2025
be videographed to prevent tampering of evidence has been made
mandatory in the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. This dual
approach significantly enhances the quality and reliability of investigations
and contributes to a fair administration of justice.
The implementation of the new criminal laws through the above-
mentioned applications by States/UTs contribute to improving the speed,
efficiency, and transparency of the judicial process, thereby supporting a
more effective, technology-driven, timely and citizen-friendly justice
delivery system.
*****