Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday conducted a comprehensive review of the implementation of the newly enacted criminal laws in Jammu and Kashmir.
The high-level meeting, held at North Block in New Delhi, was attended by Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah (who participated virtually), and senior officials from the central and UT administrations.
During the meeting, Shah assessed the progress of the recently introduced laws—the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA)—which officially replaced the colonial-era Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and the Indian Evidence Act of 1872.
These legal reforms, which came into effect on July 1 last year, mark a significant shift in India’s judicial framework, aligning it with contemporary legal standards and removing outdated provisions from the colonial period.
The review meeting holds particular significance as Jammu and Kashmir, which was bifurcated into two Union Territories—Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh—following the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, has been under direct central administration in key areas such as law and order.
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The implementation of the new criminal laws in the region is seen as a crucial step in ensuring a modernized and uniform legal framework across the country.
According to officials, the Home Ministry has been actively monitoring the rollout of these laws nationwide. Prior to the J&K review, Amit Shah had chaired similar meetings in various states, including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat, to assess their implementation and address any challenges faced by law enforcement agencies.
The Home Ministry has emphasised that these legal reforms are a part of India’s broader initiative to eliminate the remnants of its colonial past and establish a judicial system that is more responsive to the needs of the modern era.
The meeting concluded with discussions on ensuring smooth implementation, training law enforcement personnel, and addressing any region-specific challenges in Jammu and Kashmir.
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