The Nyaya Sanhita is India’s latest legislative reform aimed at transforming the judicial process. It introduces time-bound legal procedures to accelerate investigations and trials, focusing on women, children, and marginalized communities.
The Nyaya Sanhita: Key Mechanisms for Faster Justice Delivery
1. Time-Bound Case Resolutions
The law enforces strict deadlines at various stages of legal proceedings to minimize delays:
- Preliminary Enquiry: Completion within 14 days.
- Further Investigation: Completion within 90 days.
- Supply of Documents: Victim and accused must receive case documents within 14 days.
- Trial Commitment: Cases committed for trial within 90 days.
- Discharge Applications: Filing allowed within 60 days.
- Charge Framing: Charges must be framed within 60 days.
- Judgment Pronouncement: Judgments delivered within 45 days.
- Mercy Petitions: Filing deadlines include 30 days for the Governor and 60 days for the President.
These timelines ensure that justice is not delayed and cases proceed smoothly.
2. Expedited Investigations for Sensitive Cases
Sensitive cases involving women and children receive special attention with strict investigation deadlines:
- Offenses Against Women and Children: Investigations must be concluded within two months of registering the complaint.
This provision ensures protection and swift action for vulnerable groups.
3. Restriction on Court Adjournments
To curb intentional legal delays, the Nyaya Sanhita imposes a cap on adjournments:
- Maximum Adjournments Allowed: Two per case.
This limits procedural delays and prevents the misuse of legal loopholes.
4. Structured Legal Procedures
The reform introduces clear, time-bound stages for every judicial process, including:
- Preliminary Enquiry: 14 days.
- Further Investigation: 90 days.
- Document Supply: 14 days.
- Trial Commitment: 90 days.
- Discharge Applications: 60 days.
- Charge Framing: 60 days.
- Judgment Pronouncement: 45 days.
- Mercy Petitions Filing: 30 days before the Governor and 60 days before the President.
Why It Matters:
By establishing well-defined timelines and reducing procedural hurdles, the Nyaya Sanhita enhances the efficiency of India’s judicial system. It focuses on fair, timely justice while ensuring that cases involving vulnerable populations receive priority.
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