In his letter, Bhalla said, “…It is clarified that the purposes of these sections, the police stations or the place under the control of the police department may not be designated as a place for examination of witnesses through audio-video electronic means.”

From July 1, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam has replaced the Indian Penal Code, 1860, the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872. Together, these three laws govern the criminal justice jurisprudence — from defining penal offences, prescribing processes for investigation and evidence gathering to governing the process of a trial in court.

The three laws were passed by Parliament in December through a voice vote in both Houses when many Opposition MPs were under suspension.

Citing example of the Delhi Police, an officer said all the district DCPs were recently asked by the legal branch for the designated places are to be notified under Sections 265 (3), 266 (2) and 308 of BNSS 2023 for examining witness by courts through video conferencing.

“DCPs were told that address and locations of all the Police stations of Delhi, all Delhi Police district headquarters, all Delhi Police units headquarters, Delhi Police Headquarters and all training centres of Delhi Police Academy – needs to be shared with the Home department of Delhi government on urgent basis. All concerned DCSs of districts and units were asked to share the location and addresses of their respective police stations, and units,” the officer said.