Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a review meeting in New Delhi today to assess the implementation of new criminal laws in Jammu and Kashmir. The meeting took place at the North Block and included J-K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.
Focus on New Criminal Laws
The discussion focused on the status of several new provisions related to police, jails, courts, prosecution, and forensics. These provisions are part of three new criminal laws—Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023; Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023; and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), 2023. These laws have replaced the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and the Indian Evidence Act.
Key Officials Present
Several senior officials attended the meeting, including the Union Home Secretary, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary, the state’s Director General of Police, and the Director General of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). Officials from the Union Home Ministry and the J-K government were also present.
Shah’s Push for Quick Implementation
In February, Shah held a similar meeting with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. He urged Maharashtra to implement the new laws across all police commissionerates without delay. Over the past few months, he has also reviewed the implementation in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Haryana.
Commitment to Faster Justice
Earlier, during a discussion with state and UT officials, Shah emphasized that the goal of these laws is to ensure justice within three years. He stated, “The essence of the three new criminal laws introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi lies in delivering justice from the filing of an FIR till the highest court within three years.”
