Dr. Sumita Misra announces Haryana’s reforms: faster investigations, tech-driven justice, DNA upgrades, and new jails for enhanced law enforcement.
According to Dr. Sumita Misra, Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, Haryana has firmly established itself as a national leader in the implementation of India’s new criminal laws, recording notable improvements in conviction rates, forensic compliance, and investigation timelines while concurrently unveiling an ambitious reform roadmap that includes mobile forensic units, significant investments in DNA and cyber forensics, extensive police recruitment, and expanded prison infrastructure.
Dr. Sumita Misra stated that the introduction of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam represents a thorough overhaul of the criminal justice system while speaking to prosecution officers as Chief Guest at a workshop on the application of the new criminal laws in Haryana held by the Prosecution Department at PWD Rest House, Panchkula. She referred to prosecutors as the “architects of justice,” stating that their advocacy in the courtroom and legal knowledge are essential to turning police investigations into just outcomes for victims and society.
The state reported 1,59,034 first information reports between July 1, 2024, and December 24, 2025. Of those, charge-sheets or final reports were filed in 1,37,141 cases, or almost 87 percent, according to Dr. Misra. Regarding the 90-day category, compliance was about 80%, while nearly 70% of cases falling under the mandated 60-day inquiry timeframe were finished within the allotted time. A few of districts attained compliance rates higher than 85%, which is indicative of more stringent oversight, enhanced inter-district collaboration, and more efficient monitoring systems.
Also read: Panchkula PMDA Approves Rs 127.92 Crore Projects: New Bridge and Jal Dhara Beautification
Dr.Sumita Misra highlighted forensic changes, pointing out that 97.2% of crime scenes requiring required inspection were attended by forensic professionals in 2025. With regard to all serious offenses requiring mandated forensic visits, Haryana has attained zero pendency. A 99 percent DNA positivity rate in cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act was recorded by the state, which established a nationwide standard for scientific evidence-based inquiry.
Conviction rates under the new legal framework have almost risen to 72% from 24% under the previous system, according to Dr. Misra on conviction outcomes. With almost 81,000 cases resolved in just 17 months, the success of the switch to the new criminal legislation was demonstrated.
She added that with the widespread use of eSign tools, Aadhaar-authenticated workflows, real-time crime documentation, auto-registration of FIRs in situations of car theft, and widespread adoption of video conferencing, technology-driven justice delivery has been instrumental in these reforms. Currently, over 2,100 authorized electronic witness examination facilities throughout the state facilitate the over 78% virtual undertrial court appearances.
According to Dr. Misra’s roadmap, the Home Department plans to deploy 40 mobile forensic vans, invest Rs. 101 crore to upgrade investigative tools, and allocate an extra Rs. 18 crore this fiscal year to improve its DNA and cyber forensic capabilities. On January 1, 2026, the Regional Forensic Science Laboratory in Gurugram will launch a new DNA Division.
The construction of three new district jails in Charkhi Dadri, Fatehabad, and Panchkula has been approved at an estimated cost of Rs. 284 crore, she said, adding capacity for almost 4,000 inmates. Additionally, she said that an ultra-modern district jail complex at Fideri village in Rewari, built at a cost of Rs. 95 crore, has already been completed.