Hyderabad: Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar today described the new criminal code bills, which were passed by Parliament during the just concluded Monsoon Session, as a “monumental and revolutionary” change that unshackles the Indian Criminal Justice System from its colonial legacy.
Welcoming the President’s assent to three new criminal code bills, which are generating critical reviews, he praised these new laws that he claimed would keep the focus on justice rather than punishment. “The Dand Sanhita has now become the Nyaya Sanhita,” he said during the release of a special Indian Postal Cover commemorating the 100th anniversary of the late Justice Konda Madhav Reddy, former Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh and Bombay High Courts and former Governor of Maharashtra, at AV College here.
Dhankhar referred to recent changes in India’s legal landscape and said digitisation of courts and the establishment of Commercial Courts will have a “tremendous positive impact” on the progress and welfare of the nation.
“What is further noteworthy is that under the current Chief Justice of India, the Supreme Court has taken several critical steps including bringing justice to people in their own language,” he further added.
Observing that the central message of late Justice Konda Madhav Reddy’s life was an inclusive society, the Vice President recalled Justice Reddy’s contribution to “several important judgments that shaped Indian history and discourse”.
He underlined the ideals advocated and emphasized by Justice Reddy – service, justice and compassion, and said these must form the bedrock of an inclusive society and a vibrant democracy. “We must ever continue to believe in them, practice them,” he said.
Dhankhar further referred to Justice Reddy’s agricultural roots, and said, “Being a Kisan Putra (son of a farmer) myself, I am inspired by Justice Reddy’s efforts to alleviate rural struggles through his judgements. He gave a voice to those who were believed to be voiceless”.
He also praised the passing of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam stating that it marks a long-overdue measure that will give women their rightful space in Indian democracy.
– global bihari bureau
