LG Sinha reviews new criminal law rollout

Jammu, Jan 9: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Thursday chaired a high-level meeting to review the implementation of three new criminal laws - Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023 in Jammu Kashmir.

The LG took appraisal of the comprehensive measures taken for the capacity building and training of the Police personnel and officials of other line departments for effective implementation of the new criminal laws that came into force on July 1, 2024.

He emphasised dedicated efforts to strengthen the Criminal Justice System and increase the rate of conviction, especially in heinous crimes, anti-national activities, and terror-related incidents.

“We must ensure transparency in action taken by the Police and meet the timelines set for speedy investigation and trial as underlined in the new criminal laws,” the LG said.

He directed a comparative study of pre and post-era of the new criminal laws and preparing a calendar for the public awareness camps in collaboration with various departments including Information, Education, Social Welfare, and Legal Services Authority to increase awareness among the public regarding the new criminal laws.

The meeting also discussed the progress achieved under various technological interventions, notification of SoPs and guidelines, translation of new laws in Dogri and Kashmiri languages, procurement of FSL vans and training of forensic experts, prison personnel and judicial officers.

The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo; Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat; Principal Secretary Home, Chandraker Bharti; DGP Prisons Department, Deepak Kumar; Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Headquarters and Coordination, M K Sinha; Principal Secretary to LG, Mandeep K Bhandari; IGP Headquarters PHQ, Bhim Sen Tuti, and IGP Crime, Sunil Gupta.

Secretary Health and Medical Education, Syed Abid Rasheed Shah; Secretary Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Achal Sethi; Director J&K Judicial Academy, Sonia Gupta; SIO NIC, Jaskaran Singh Modi, and other senior officials also attended the meeting.