New Delhi: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, chaired a review meeting on the implementation of three new criminal laws in Jammu and Kashmir, in the presence of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, in New Delhi today. The meeting assessed the implementation and current status of various new provisions related to police, prisons, courts, prosecution, and forensics in Jammu and Kashmir. It was attended by 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.
During the meeting, the Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation instructed the UT administration to ensure full implementation of the three new criminal laws in Jammu and Kashmir by April 2025. He emphasised the need for the optimum use of technology to ensure speedy justice under the new legal framework.
The Union Home Minister stated that for the successful implementation of these laws, it is essential to change the attitude of police personnel and the administration while raising awareness among citizens. He noted that with the decline in terror activities and improved security in Jammu and Kashmir, the police should now prioritise safeguarding the rights of citizens. He also highlighted the urgent need to utilise the provision of Trial in Absentia in the union territory.
He stressed the importance of holding police officers accountable for expediting the process of filing chargesheets. He directed that every police station in Jammu and Kashmir should maximise the use of the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS). Additionally, he called for the immediate training of 100% of investigating officers on the provisions of the new laws. Amit Shah also stated that decisions concerning provisions related to terrorism and organised crime should undergo thorough scrutiny at the level of the Superintendent of Police. He added that strict monitoring is necessary to prevent the misuse of these provisions.
Amit Shah commended the Jammu and Kashmir administration and government for their commendable efforts in implementing the new criminal laws despite challenging circumstances. He stated that the progress of implementation should be reviewed on a monthly, fortnightly, and weekly basis at the levels of the Chief Minister, Chief Secretary, and Director General of Police, respectively.