Home Minister Amit Shah attended meeting with Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor and Chief Minister.
New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a high-level review meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday, focusing on the implementation of three new criminal laws in Jammu and Kashmir. The meeting was attended by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, and senior officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Union Territory administration.
The discussions centered on the status and execution of various new provisions concerning policing, prisons, courts, prosecution, and forensics in Jammu and Kashmir. Also present were the Union Home Secretary, the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police of Jammu and Kashmir, as well as the Director Generals of the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD) and the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).
Home Minister Shah directed the UT administration to ensure complete enforcement of the new criminal laws, enacted under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, by April 2025. He emphasized the need for leveraging technology to facilitate swift justice and urged a shift in the mindset of police personnel and the administration to align with the updated legal framework. Public awareness campaigns were also highlighted as crucial for a smooth transition to the new laws.
With a decline in terror-related activities and a significant improvement in the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, Shah underscored the necessity for the police to focus on safeguarding citizens' rights. He stressed the importance of utilizing the provision of Trial in Absentia within the UT and called for a structured approach to expedite charge-sheet filing by holding police officers accountable. Every police station, he stated, should make full use of the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS) to enhance criminal investigations.
Ensuring that all investigating officers receive complete training on the new legal provisions was identified as a priority, with Shah instructing that this be achieved at the earliest. He further stated that cases related to terrorism and organized crime should undergo thorough scrutiny at the Superintendent of Police level before any decisions are made, while strict oversight mechanisms should be in place to prevent misuse of these provisions.
Acknowledging the challenges faced by the Jammu and Kashmir administration, Shah commended their progress in implementing the legal reforms. He directed that the execution of these laws be monitored regularly—on a weekly basis by the Director General of Police, fortnightly by the Chief Secretary, and monthly by the Chief Minister.
Following the meeting, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah remarked that certain weak areas requiring immediate attention were identified. He noted that while the elected government in a Union Territory is not directly responsible for implementing the laws, it could contribute to raising public awareness about them.
With IANS inputs