NSLSA hosts orientation on new criminal laws

In the backdrop of India’s sweeping criminal law reforms, the Nagaland State Legal Services Authority (NSLSA) organized a one-day orientation programme to equip legal aid practitioners with insights into the newly enacted criminal codes—Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA). Held at Hotel Japfü, Kohima, the event was attended by retainer and panel lawyers, as well as Legal Aid Defense Counsel System (LADCS) practitioners.
Delivering the keynote address, judge of the Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench, Justice Y. Longkumer, highlighted the critical role played by panel lawyers as the first point of legal recourse for marginalized communities. With the Indian Criminal Justice system undergoing what she described as a “pivotal transition,” she called upon legal professionals to assume the dual roles of educators and advocates in ensuring that the reforms translate into accessible justice.
“These legislative changes are not just cosmetic but represent a transformative shift in how justice is perceived, delivered and experienced,” Justice Longkumer said. Acknowledging the challenge of unlearning long-established statutes like the IPC, CrPC, and Indian Evidence Act, she encouraged lawyers to approach the new laws with adaptability, professionalism, and a commitment to upholding constitutional values.
Justice Longkumer underscored the evolving role of legal aid lawyers, noting that beyond courtroom advocacy, they are now expected to advise, educate, and counsel citizens navigating unfamiliar legal territory. She urged attendees to develop a deep understanding of the BNS, where reclassification of offences, community service sentencing, and new punishment frameworks have been introduced and stay abreast of enhanced provisions under BNSS and BSA concerning victim compensation, investigation timelines, and digital evidence.
“The laws may evolve, but our duty to uphold justice remains timeless,” she emphasized.
Earlier, NSLSA member secretary Neiko Akami welcomed participants, stating that the orientation aimed to empower legal aid lawyers to serve effectively under the new legal framework. The inaugural session was chaired by NSLSA retainer lawyer Apila Sangtam.
The technical sessions featured resource experts from the Judicial Academy, Assam. Faculty member Nasim Akhtar provided an extensive overview of key reforms introduced in the BNSS. He elaborated on changes concerning FIR registration, arrests, remands, bail procedures, search and seizure protocols, and digital forensics. Akhtar also discussed procedural enhancements such as the use of technology in investigations, supply of documents to the accused and victims, and modifications in the medical examination process.
In a subsequent session, SP Moitra, also of the Judicial Academy, delivered a detailed comparison of the new and old procedural codes. His lecture covered reforms from cognizance to trial stages, including provisions for trial in absentia, plea bargaining under BNSS 2023, changes in mercy petitions, and victim and witness protection mechanisms.
Sessions on the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam addressed key additions, deletions, and reorganization of legal definitions, with a focus on how these changes align with contemporary justice delivery standards. Topics such as community service as punishment and digital evidence in trial procedures received particular attention.
The orientation concluded with a shared call for deeper legal engagement and professional development.