New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a high-level meeting today in the national capital to assess the rollout of new criminal laws in Jammu and Kashmir.
The review session, held at North Block, saw the presence of J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.
Focus on Legal Reforms and Law Enforcement
The discussion centered on the current status of various provisions impacting law enforcement, judicial processes, forensic procedures, and prosecution under the three recently enacted criminal lawsโ
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, replacing the Indian Penal Code (IPC)
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, replacing the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC)
Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), 2023, replacing the Indian Evidence Act
Key officials, including the Union Home Secretary, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary, Director General of Police (DGP), Director General of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), and senior representatives from the Union Home Ministry and UT administration, were present at the meeting.
Nationwide Implementation Underway
This review aligns with similar consultations Shah has conducted with other states, including Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Haryana, to ensure the swift adoption of the new legal framework. In a recent meeting with Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, Shah urged immediate enforcement of the laws across all police commissionerates.
Earlier discussions with state and UT leaders have emphasized that the core objective of the new laws is to deliver justice within three yearsโfrom FIR registration to the final verdict in the highest court.
J&K CM Omar Abdullahโs Take on Implementation in J&K
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah clarified that while the elected government does not have the authority to enforce these laws, it remains responsible for raising awareness about them.
โThe implementation of these laws is beyond our mandate, but it is crucial to ensure that the public understands them. The elected government must take a proactive role in creating awareness,โ Omar stated.
He acknowledged progress in Jammu and Kashmirโs implementation efforts but admitted that certain areas required improvement.
Security Discussions Not on the Agenda
Addressing speculation, Omar Abdullah stated that todayโs meeting did not cover security issues in Jammu and Kashmir. He mentioned that security concerns were discussed separately during his recent interaction with Amit Shah in Parliament.
When asked about his exclusion from security-related reviews, Omar refrained from direct criticism but noted:
โThis meeting was strictly about legal reforms. If the decision has been made to exclude elected representatives from security discussions, I have little to add.โ
