NEW DELHI: Days after full rollout of the three new criminal laws in the Union territory of Chandigarh, home minister Amit Shah is already working to ensure their 100% implementation in Haryana by March 31, 2025.
Shah on Tuesday chaired a review meeting on the status of implementation of new provisions in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), aimed at establishing seamless inter-connectivity between different pillars of the criminal justice system, that is, the police, prisons, courts, prosecution and forensics, in Haryana.
The meeting here was held here in the presence of Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini, and attended by the Union home secretary, chief principal secretary to the chief minister, the state chief secretary and DGP; and DGs heading the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD) and the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).
Shah told the meeting that the new criminal laws are fast becoming the protectors of civil rights and basis of “ease of justice”, while setting March 31, 2025 as the target for Haryana to ensure their 100% implementation.
While emphasising on the use of technology to collect scientific evidence and push up conviction rates in criminal cases, the home minister said that more than one forensic mobile van should be at disposal of the police in every district of Haryana. He said the responsibility of monitoring ‘zero-FIRs’ — which may be lodged at any police station, irrespective of the jurisdiction in which the crime was committed — should lie with the officer of the rank of deputy superintendent of police (deputy SP), and their translation into other languages ensured according to the states. Shah insisted upon the state police chief sensitising all the police personnel that providing timely justice is their priority.
The minister asked Haryana DGP to ensure that all Superintendents of Police (SPs) investigate the cases within timelines as prescribed in the BNSS. He particularly asked the state chief minister to keep the March 31, 2025 target in mind and review the progress of implementation of the three new laws every 15 days. The chief secretary and DGP were also asked to undertake a weekly review with the officials of all concerned departments.
