Amit Shah Promises End to India’s Endless Courtroom Delays

Union Home Minister Amit Shah unleashed a bold vision for India's justice system, declaring an end to the infamous "tareekh pe tareekh" culture of endless courtroom adjournments. Speaking at the launch of a groundbreaking week-long exhibition on the freshly implemented trio of criminal laws, Shah painted a picture of a revolutionized legal landscape where ordinary citizens won't have to wait decades for closure on their grievances. The star of the show? Three game-changing statutes—the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA)—which replaced the colonial-era Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, and Indian Evidence Act.

"These aren't just laws; they're a complete overhaul designed to make justice not only simpler but strictly time-bound," Shah thundered to a packed crowd in this historic city, known as the land of the Mahabharata. The exhibition, kicking off today and running through October 10, features interactive displays, live demos, and expert sessions to demystify how these reforms empower police, prosecutors, and courts to act faster and fairer.

Shah didn't mince words about the old system's failures. "For too long, people have dreaded stepping into a police station, fearing their case would drag on forever without resolution," he said, his voice resonating with the authority of a man who's steered India's internal security through turbulent times. But here's the bombshell: By 2026, Shah guarantees that the average First Information Report (FIR) will be wrapped up in just three years—delivering verdicts that are swift, certain, and just. "I say this with full confidence. No more excuses, no more delays," he added, earning thunderous applause from attendees, including local BJP leaders and law enforcement officials.

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The proof, Shah argued, is already in the pudding. Just one year into these reforms, the numbers tell a success story that's hard to ignore. Nationally, a whopping 53% of criminal cases saw chargesheets filed within 60 days, jumping to 65% within 90 days. Haryana, ever the frontrunner, outshone the rest: 71% of cases got chargesheets in under two months, and 83% within three. And the cherry on top? Conviction rates in the state have skyrocketed, doubling to an impressive 80%—a stark contrast to the pre-reform era when cases often fizzled out in bureaucratic limbo.

Diving deeper, Shah highlighted how the new laws arm investigators with cutting-edge tools, like mandatory timelines for probes, digitized evidence collection under BSA, and victim-centric provisions in BNSS that prioritize speedy trials. "Imagine a rape case or a murder trial resolved before the pain fades— that's the future we're building," he elaborated, underscoring the laws' focus on technology, from e-FIRs to AI-assisted forensics, to cut through red tape. Experts at the event echoed his optimism, noting that features like zero FIRs (fileable anywhere) and audio-video witness statements are already reducing backlog in district courts by up to 30%.

But Shah's speech wasn't all policy wonkery; it doubled as a victory lap for the Bharatiya Janata Party's iron grip on Haryana. With the saffron party securing a hat-trick in the recent assembly polls, he reminded the audience: "You've trusted us three times, and we haven't left a single stone unturned in propelling Haryana to new heights—be it in infrastructure, jobs, or now, justice." The minister teased upcoming initiatives, like statewide training camps for over 50,000 police personnel on the new codes, and a national portal for real-time case tracking to keep the momentum going.

As the sun set over Kurukshetra's ancient fields, Shah's words lingered like a promise etched in stone: India's justice system is shedding its outdated shackles, racing toward an era where the law serves the people, not the other way around. With exhibitions like this one rolling out across 700 districts, the message is clear—change isn't coming; it's here, and it's faster than you think. Will 2026 mark the death knell for judicial delays? Only time—and these transformative laws—will tell.

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