Digital Platforms and Co- Ordination is Key to Timely Justice

• Chief Justice of Telangana High court calls for stronger Co-Ordination to Accelerate Implementation of New Criminal Laws - Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh

• -Coordination, Digital Literacy Vital for New Criminal Laws: Judicial Academy President Hon'ble Justice Moushumi Bhattacharya

• Need for seamless implementation & effective utilisation of all digital platforms- DGP C.V. Anand

• Focused on Co-ordination among Police, Judiciary, Prosecution, Medical, Forensic and Prison Departments

• Presentations on e-Sakshya, e-FIR, digital evidence and digital case management etc.,

A unique conference on “New Criminal Laws: Strengthening the Criminal Justice System through Digital Platforms” was organised by the Telangana State Judicial Academy in collaboration with Telangana Police, bringing together the Judiciary, Police, Prisons, Prosecution, Forensic and  other key institutions NIC, NCRB etc., Perhaps this is first time in the country and was organised on the initiative of  the Hon’ble Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court to bring all the stake holders of the implementation of the new criminal laws BNS, BNSS , BSA onto a common platform with regard to their digitised implementation. 

The conference was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Chief Justice of Telangana, Justice Shri Aparesh Kumar Singh, in the presence of Hon’ble Judges of the Telangana High Court and senior officers from the aforesaid departments. The conference was conducted in a hybrid format, enabling the participation of around 1,200 judicial officers, officers of the prosecution branch, police, prisons, forensics and health, all over the state through hybrid mode. The Hon’ble Judges of the High Court and HODs of all institutions that are part of 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. 

Chief Justice of Telangana emphasises institutional cooperation; Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh

   “Justice is the collective achievement of institutions working in harmony” he said and added that the criminal case begins with registration and moves through investigation, forensics, prosecution and adjudication, making every link important. Hon’ble judged observed that the 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. He 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.

Better Coordination, Digital Literacy Vital for New Criminal Laws: Judicial Academy President Hon'ble Justice Moushumi Bhattacharya

Telangana State Judicial Academy President Hon'ble Justice Moushumi Bhattacharya emphasised the need for greater coordination among stakeholders and better use of digital platforms for the effective implementation of the new criminal laws. Addressing the conference, 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 pointed out that 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. She also called for faster communication between the police, prosecution and prison authorities to ensure timely processing of cases. She observed that limited familiarity with digital platforms among some stakeholders was also contributing to delays and underlined the need for capacity building and improved digital literacy.

DGP C.V. Anand highlights the need for seamless implementation

In his address, the DGP C.V. Anand emphasised that the new criminal laws are not merely a replacement of the earlier statutes, but represent a significant shift towards citizen-centric justice, scientific investigation, digital evidence, electronic records and time-bound procedures. He highlighted the need for better supervision, accurate and complete digital data updation , timely investigation, and stressed on effective utilisation of all digital platforms. 

The conference was structured into three technical sessions, with officers from the participating institutions making detailed presentations and sharing 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 discussions helped bring out not only what the new systems provide for, but also what each stakeholder needs from the other for these systems to work effectively on the ground.

Proposal for regular review mechanism

Recognising that implementation requires continuous coordination, the DGP requested the judiciary to consider establishing a coordination mechanism under the chairmanship of an Hon’ble Judge of the Telangana High Court, with regular monthly reviews of the implementation of the new criminal laws.

The conference marked an important first step towards building a more integrated, technology-enabled and citizen-focused criminal justice system in Telangana. The DGP expressed his gratitude to the Hon’ble Chief Justice and the Hon’ble Judges of the Telangana High Court for their support and guidance, and to the Telangana State Judicial Academy for taking forward this important initiative. The collective effort is expected to strengthen the digital links between every institution in the justice delivery system and ultimately make the process faster, more transparent and more responsive to citizens. 

The conference attended along with the Hon'ble Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court, Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh is the Chief Guest. Hon'ble Justice Moushumi Bhattacharya, President of the Telangana State Judicial Academy, hight court Judges Justice Vijaya Sena Reddy, Justice Madhavi Devi, Director General of Police C.V. Anand, Shri Prashun Gupta, NCRB, MHA, TGSFLC Director, Shikha Goel, Jails DG Soumya Mishra, Shri Sreedevi, Principal, Telangana Judicial Academy, CDTI Director Salman Taj, Director Prosecutions, DGs & IGs,Sps and other rank officers  and other senior members of the judiciary, police, jails and prosecution are participated in the event.

 

The two-month-long exercise to strengthen our existing specialised wings, earmarking manpower for the new specialised wings, which will commence functioning soon, through the strategic allocation and redistribution of personnel has been completed today. This is an important milestone as we reposition our resources to meet emerging challenges such as cybercrime, narcotics, traffic, food adulteration etc.,

With Left Wing Extremism now effectively eradicated in the country, a pool of 720 personnel from SIB, OCTOPUS and Greyhounds was identified for this transition. So far, 513 have completed refresher training at TGPA. Over the past few weeks, they have gained exposure to Law & Order and Traffic duties, along with skill assessment and wing-specific training.

Today, I chaired a meeting at TGPA with the HODs of the specialised wings and reviewed the distribution in detail. Of the 513 personnel, 289 have been allocated to TG-SAFE (80), V&E (79), CID (25), CSB (25), ACB (25), T-SPARK (27) and Civil Supplies (28), while 224 personnel have been earmarked for the upcoming Traffic Management & Road Safety Bureau.

I also interacted with the men, explained the purpose of this transition and encouraged them to maintain their high standards of fitness, adapt quickly to their new responsibilities and serve with the same commitment, bringing credit to the Police Department. Orders are being issued and they will report to their respective specialised wings on Friday.

Governor’s ‘At Home’

 Telangana DGP Sri C.V. Anand, along with his family, attended the ‘At Home’ reception hosted by Hon’ble Governor Sri Shiv Pratap Shukla at Lok Bhavan on Independence Day.

The ‘At Home’ is a traditional formal reception hosted by the Governor on Independence Day and Republic Day for dignitaries from various walks of life. In New Delhi, the President of India hosts the reception.

‘Suraksha Ka Tiranga’ Cyber Awareness Programme

 Telangana DGP Sri C.V. Anand participated in the ‘Suraksha Ka Tiranga’ cyber awareness programme organised by the Cyber Security Bureau at TGICCC as part of a nationwide campaign to create awareness about cybercrime. He spoke about emerging cybercrime methods, including digital arrests, which have declined following sustained awareness efforts, and investment frauds, which account for nearly 60% of reported cyber offences in Telangana.

The DGP said Telangana Police is strengthening its response to new-age crimes, including cyber fraud, narcotics, food adulteration and organised gangs. He noted that Telangana ranked No. 1 nationally on nine cybercrime parameters in the recent Pragathi review video conference chaired by the Hon’ble Prime Minister. He also highlighted the increasing targeting of retired employees and senior citizens by fraudsters promising quick returns, and stressed the need for families to remain vigilant. He spoke about cyber piracy and its impact on the film industry, recalling police interventions in 2023 that resulted in the arrest of those involved.

DGP C.V. Anand urged citizens to carry the message of cyber safety to their homes, particularly to senior citizens and family members. He thanked actor Sri Akkineni Nagarjuna for gracing the programme and sharing his experiences with cybercrime.

DGP C.V. Anand Reviews Preparations for Conference on New Criminal Laws

 Timely justice requires seamless coordination among all components of the criminal justice system, including the Police, Judiciary, Prosecution, Medical, Forensic and Prison departments. In preparation for the conference on “New Criminal Law - Strengthening Criminal Justice System through Digital Platforms”, scheduled to be hosted this Thursday by the Telangana State Judicial Academy, Secunderabad, in coordination with Telangana Police, DGP Sri C.V. Anand held a review meeting with all  senior officers involved in the digital implementation of the new criminal laws.

During the meeting, the DGP reviewed the presentations prepared by the participating departments and suggested necessary changes. The conference, facilitated by Hon’ble Chief Justice of Telangana Sri Aparesh Kumar Singh, who will inaugurate the event as Chief Guest, will focus on challenges in implementing the new criminal laws and strengthening inter-agency coordination from investigation to trial. Technical sessions will cover e-Sakshya, e-FIR, digital evidence management, video-conference recording of evidence and digital case management. 

The DGP noted that Telangana currently faces challenges in timeline compliance and ICT adoption, largely due to gaps in inter-agency coordination. He stressed that strict adherence to statutory timelines and faster digital submission of evidence and reports are essential for expediting justice delivery and improving the State’s national standing. The conference aims to address these gaps and strengthen technology-enabled coordination across the criminal justice system.