Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasizes urgent implementation of new criminal laws in Jammu and Kashmir
Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a meeting with Jammu and Kashmir's Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on February 18, 2023, in New Delhi. During the meeting, Shah emphasized the urgent need to enforce "trial in absentia" provisions and fully implement the new criminal laws in the Union Territory by April 2025.
the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023; Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023; and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), 2023. These laws replaced the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and the Indian Evidence Act, respectively.
He stressed the importance of reviewing the implementation progress of these new laws on a monthly, fortnightly, and weekly basis at the levels of the Chief Minister, Chief Secretary, and Director General of Police, respectively.
Shah emphasized the need for a change in attitude among police personnel and the administration for the successful implementation of the new laws. He also highlighted the importance of creating awareness about these laws among the citizens.
With the decline in terror activities and improved security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir, Shah stated that the police should now prioritize safeguarding the rights of its citizens.
He emphasized the need to fix responsibility on police officers to expedite the process of filing charge sheets. He also advocated for the maximum utilization of the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS) in every police station across Jammu and Kashmir.
Shah stressed the importance of 100% training of investigating officers on the provisions of the new laws at the earliest. He also stated that decisions on provisions related to terrorism and organized crime should be taken only after thorough scrutiny at the level of Superintendent of Police. He added that strict monitoring is required to ensure that these provisions under the new laws are not misused.
Shah commended the Jammu and Kashmir administration and government for their satisfactory work towards implementing the new criminal laws despite challenging circumstances.
The meeting reviewed the implementation and current status of various new provisions related to police, prisons, courts, prosecution, and forensics in Jammu and Kashmir. The meeting was attended by dignitaries including the Union Home Secretary, Chief Secretary and Director General of Police of Jammu and Kashmir, the Director General of the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD), the Director General of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), and other senior officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the UT administration.