Guwahati, March 16:
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Sunday that the Central government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is dedicated to providing citizens with a speedy and transparent justice system. He highlighted the importance of promptly registering crimes to strengthen law and order.
During a review meeting on the implementation of three new criminal laws in northeastern states, Shah mentioned that more efforts are needed to enforce these laws effectively in the region. He stated that once fully implemented, these laws will improve the region’s law and order situation, ensuring that justice is delivered within three years after an FIR is filed.
The meeting, held in Guwahati, was attended by the Chief Ministers of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, and Sikkim, as well as other senior officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs and state governments.
Shah also unveiled a book titled ‘New Criminal Laws: Standard Operating Procedures and Rules’, prepared by the CID of Assam.
The Home Minister emphasized the need to eliminate political interference in cases related to terrorism, mob lynching, and organized crime. He also urged the northeastern states to ensure that all police personnel receive full training on the new criminal laws and requested monthly reviews from the Chief Ministers. Additionally, he called for bi-weekly reviews by the Directors General of Police and Chief Secretaries of the states.
He further stressed that the three new criminal laws must be fully implemented at the grassroots level for police stations to become places where people can access justice. Shah congratulated Assam for filing charge sheets within 60-90 days in 66% of cases, urging other states to follow this example.
Shah also discussed the need for implementing the e-Sakshya system to ensure that charge sheets meet forensic standards. He suggested using the Trial in Absentia provision to bring back fugitive criminals.
Finally, Shah noted that the introduction of three new laws—the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA)—was a significant step after extensive discussions over 45 months. These laws replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and the Indian Evidence Act, with full implementation beginning on July 1 this year.
