Odisha Launches Training for Non‑Cadre Prosecutors to Implement New Criminal Laws
The Odisha Law Department, in collaboration with the Director of Public Prosecutions, has rolled out a statewide induction‑cum‑refresher training programme for Non‑Cadre Public Prosecutors.
The initiative was inaugurated by Prithiviraj Harichandan, Minister for Law, Works & Excise, with district collectors and superintendents of police joining virtually.
The first phase of the programme is scheduled from February 28 to March 1, 2026, across district headquarters in Cuttack, Ganjam, Sambalpur, Balasore, Puri, Koraput, and Angul. Subsequent phases will cover the remaining districts.
The training aims to strengthen prosecutorial functioning, procedural discipline, and ethical standards while ensuring uniform practices statewide.
A major focus is on the effective implementation of India’s three new criminal laws—Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA).
Sessions will include practical guidance on courtroom application, judicial interpretations, evidentiary standards, and strategies to overcome trial challenges.
The programme is expected to accelerate case disposal, reduce acquittals due to technical lapses, improve evidence presentation, and enhance coordination between police and prosecutors.
Officials emphasised that this initiative is not a one‑time exercise but a sustainable mechanism to build a more efficient, credible, and responsive criminal justice system in Odisha.
