Criminal Litigation – Practice Areas and List of Acts (LITIGATION BASICS 18)

The Criminal Litigation Practitioner requires thorough knowledge of Procedural and Substantive Laws. The CrPC and Evidence Act are procedural laws. The substantive criminal laws are divided into two parts – First is General laws that is Indian Penal Code and second is Special Statutes. There are some laws which are both substantive and procedural in nature. Example - POCSO Act defines offenses against children, provides punishment, and also prescribes procedures to be followed by special courts. The scope of practice in criminal law is very wide. The criminal litigation practice includes practice in general criminal law and specialized practice in Cyber Law, Economic Offences, etc.

Junior Lawyers at the initial stage of practice find it difficult to identify practice areas in criminal litigation. In this document, I have prepared a Practice areas-wise list of Acts in Criminal Litigation.

CONSTITUTIONAL LAWS

1. The Constitution of India

PROCEDURAL LAWS

1. The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

2. The Evidence Act, 1872

3. Criminal Manual Issued by Bombay High Court

GENERAL CRIMINAL LAW

1. Indian Penal Code, 1860

LAWS RELATING TO ARMS AND AMMUNITION

1. The Arms Act, 1959

LAWS RELATING TO LAW AND ORDER

2. The Maharashtra Police Act 1951

3. The Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952

4. The Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946

5. The Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003

6. The National Investigation Agency Act, 2008

7. The Mumbai Police Manual 1959

LAWS RELATING TO PRISONS

1. The Prisons Act, 1894

2. The Prisoners Act, 1900

3. The Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act, 2022

4. The Probation of Offenders Act, 1958

LAWS RELATING TO ECONOMIC OFFENCES

1. The Prevention Of Corruption Act, 1988

2. The Prevention of Money-Laundering Act, 2002

3. The Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act, 1988

4. The Maharashtra Protection of Interest Of Depositors (In Financial Establishments) Act, 1999

(A) OFFENCES UNDER COMPANY ACT

1. The Companies Act, 2013

(B) OFFENCES UNDER SECURITIES LAWS

1. The Depositories Act, 1966

2. The Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956

3. The Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992

(C) OFFENCES UNDER TAXATION LAWS

1. The Income Tax Act, 1961

2. GST Laws

3. The Custom Act, 1962

(D) OFFENCES UNDER IPR LAWS

1. The Trademark Act, 1999

2. The Copyright Act, 1957

LAWS RELATING TO DISHONOUR OF CHEQUES

1. The Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881

LAWS RELATING TO CYBER CRIMES

1. The Information Technology Act, 2000 and Rules

LAWS RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES

1. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986

2. The Forest Act, 1927

3. The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972

4. The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974

5. The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981

LAWS RELATING TO CHILDRENS

1. The Commissions for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005

2. The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012

3. The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015

4. The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006

LAWS RELATING TO WOMENS

1. The National Commission for Women Act, 1990

2. The Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986

3. The Sexual Harassment Of Women At Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition And Redressal) Act, 2013

4. The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961

5. Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, 1994

6. The Protection Of Women From Domestic Violence Act, 2005

7. The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019

LAWS RELATING TO VULNERABLES

1. The Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993

2. The Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955

3. The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989

4. The Rights Of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016

5. The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019

LAWS RELATING TO NARCOTICS AND DRUGS

1. The Narcotic Drugs And Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985

2. The Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988

3. The Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940

4. The Maharashtra Prohibition Act, 1949

LAWS RELATING TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING

1. The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956

2. The Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994

LAWS RELATING TO SMUGGLING

1. The Conservation Of Foreign Exchange And Prevention Of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974

LAWS RELATING TO ORGANISED CRIMES

1. The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967

2. The National Security Act, 1980

3. The Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, 1999

4. The Maharashtra Prevention of Communal, Anti-Social and Other Dangerous Activities Act, 1980

5. The Weapons Of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition Of Unlawful Activities) Act, 2005

OTHER LAWS

1. The Contempt of Courts Act, 1971

2. The Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971

3. The motor Vehicle Act, 1988

4. The Essential Commodities Act, 1955

5. The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2000

6. The Electricity Act, 2003

7. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960

8. The Railways Act, 1989