Northeast Desk, 29th June: Arunachal Pradesh is gearing up to implement three new criminal laws in both English and Hindi, aiming to accommodate its diverse linguistic landscape, an official announced on Friday.
The decision to introduce the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita 2023, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023 in multiple languages comes as a response to the state’s wide array of dialects. Training sessions are currently underway for officials and stakeholders to ensure a smooth adaptation to these new legal frameworks.
Set to take effect from July 1, these laws will replace the long-standing Indian Penal Code 1860, Indian Evidence Act 1872, and Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 nationwide. While this marks a significant modernization in India’s legal system, concerns have been raised in neighboring Assam regarding the lack of Assamese translations.
Senior advocate Santanu Borthakur emphasized the potential challenges for Assamese-speaking citizens, citing the complexity of legal jargon in the new laws and the absence of translated versions. He pointed out that while judges and lawyers will navigate the laws in English, ordinary citizens may face difficulties understanding their implications.
“The lack of translations could lead to confusion, especially when people file cases at police stations,” Borthakur stated, urging for urgent measures to address these linguistic gaps.
The move underscores Arunachal Pradesh’s commitment to inclusive governance and effective legal reforms, yet highlights the necessity for comprehensive language accessibility in legal frameworks across diverse regions.
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