The India Policy Institute (IPI) hosted a pivotal panel discussion on “Reforming India’s Criminal Justice System” at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Guwahati. The event brought together leading legal experts, academics, and former law enforcement officials to address systemic issues within India’s criminal justice framework and discuss actionable pathways for reform.
Moderated by Pankaj Das, President of the India Policy Institute, the panel explored key challenges such as enhancing police autonomy in investigations, establishing safeguards against custodial torture, and mitigating political influence on the justice process. Participants highlighted the need for both societal and institutional changes to foster transparency, accountability, and efficiency in India’s legal landscape.
Explaining IPI’s objectives, Pankaj Das stated, “The India Policy Institute bridges academics and practitioners with the grassroots, working to bring real, research-backed solutions to complex issues. Demand for policy reform must originate at the grassroots level to effectively influence legislators and executive bodies. Through informed discourse, we aim to cultivate a societal understanding of what true policy change entails.”
Another panellist, Dr Sarfaraz Ahmed Khan, Associate Professor at the National University of Juridical Sciences in Kolkata, underscored the urgency for reform following the recent introduction of three new laws in July. “Despite these new laws, significant gaps remain, necessitating further reforms. Some improvements are evident, but much still needs attention. We hope this institute can engage politicians and other stakeholders to drive continuous progress in the criminal justice system,” he remarked.
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Adding his viewpoint, Parikshith Kutur, Advocate at the Telangana High Court, emphasised the importance of societal transformation in supporting judicial reforms. “The cornerstone of reforming the criminal justice system is change within society itself. Unless we evolve socially, the system will remain unchanged. When society stops viewing the beneficiaries of crime as heroic figures, the justice system will naturally become stronger,” he noted.
Other esteemed panellists included Angshuman Bora, Senior Advocate at Gauhati High Court, and Mukul Saikia, retired APS and former Superintendent of Police, Assam, both of whom shared insights on the need for a transparent and resilient criminal justice framework.
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