In place of BNSS, CrPC is still being used in Jharkhand, says former Congress MLA Amba Prasad

Former MLA and national secretary of All India Congress Committee (AICC) Amba Prasad on Saturday (January 31, 2026) said that across Jharkhand, FIRs are still being lodged under the CrPC, even though it has been repealed. The new law, BNSS (Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita), has been active since July 1, 2024.

Ms. Prasad made the remarks during a press conference outside the Judicial Academy in Ranchi. She said that she was doing it to bring to the attention of the Chief Minister (who is in-charge of the Home Ministry), the people of Jharkhand, the people of India, and above all, the Supreme Court and the Jharkhand High Court calling it a matter of utmost seriousness.

Her statement also shows that all is not well in the Hemant Soren government in Jharkhand, of which, Congress is an alliance partner.

“Thousands of FIRs are being registered daily in our police stations, which are still marked with ‘Section 154 of the CrPC’. If you look at the dates of these FIRs, you will be surprised—these are not old cases, but very recent FIRs registered yesterday and the day before. I am holding this press conference today to expose this major anomaly,” Ms. Prasad said.

Showing the soft copy of the FIRs registered in Hazaribagh district she further said, “As you all know, since July 1, 2024, the BNSS has replaced the ‘Code of Criminal Procedure’ (CrPC) in India. It is now 2026, and almost a year and a half have passed since this historic change. Despite this, the online FIRs being registered on the NCRB forms in Jharkhand still mention ‘Section 154 CrPC’, whereas legally, it is mandatory to register them under ‘Section 173 BNSS.”

She pointed out that a ‘dead law’ is still being used in official government documents throughout the State, and ironically, everyone, from the administration to the Opposition, is silent.

Ms. Prasad added: “This raises a big question mark on the current state of policing and law and order in Jharkhand. What kind of administration and what kind of prosecution cell is this? Even the Legislative Assembly has not taken cognisance of this issue. This also raises questions about the legal understanding and sensitivity of our political leadership, even though they themselves are the lawmakers.”

She called the practice a mockery of legal process asserting that she has raised the issue because a national-level legal conference has begun on Saturday (January 31, 2026) at the Jharkhand Judicial Academy.

“Our State has a National Law University (NUSRL) and several law colleges, where future lawyers and judges are still being taught the FIR process based on these incorrect forms. This is a mockery of the legal process that needs to be corrected immediately,” Ms. Prasad said.

A senior officer posted at Jharkhand Police Headquarters (PHQ) in Ranchi said termed it a serious matter. The officer also said that PHQ will get it investigated. However, the officer stressed all the cases are filed under the BNSS.