The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) represents a paradigm shift in India’s judicial system, focusing on justice, equality, and impartiality while reflecting Indian cultural values and ethos. Unlike the colonial-era penal code, which primarily emphasized punishment and retribution, BNS strives to deliver justice that is more restorative and inclusive, aligning with modern democratic principles.
- Justice: The BNS prioritizes victim-centric justice, ensuring that the rights and dignity of victims are upheld. It emphasizes fair trials, humane treatment, and protection against wrongful convictions.
- Equality: BNS addresses the need for legal equality by offering more equitable access to justice. This is done through faster trials, reducing procedural delays, and revising archaic laws that often favored the powerful.
- Impartiality: Reflecting the Indian ethos of fairness, BNS aims to eliminate biases and corruption in the system. It focuses on rehabilitating offenders rather than imposing harsh penalties alone, promoting social harmony.
Overall, BNS marks a significant shift towards a justice system that is not only punitive but also rehabilitative, equitable, and impartial, emphasizing the humanistic values central to Indian culture.