Union Home Minister Amit Shah has issued a directive to Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel to ensure the implementation of three new criminal laws across all commissionerates in the state by April 30, 2025, with the aim to extend it throughout Gujarat at the earliest.
The directive came during a review meeting held in New Delhi, where the Gujarat Chief Minister was also present.
The meeting primarily focused on the progress made in implementing the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA).
These laws are designed to replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and the Indian Evidence Act, respectively.
Shah discussed the importance of these laws and their provisions aimed at delivering justice swiftly, with a target of providing a final verdict within three years, from the filing of the First Information Report (FIR) to the Supreme Court’s decision on the case.
The Union Home Minister acknowledged the work already done by the Gujarat government in implementing these laws, calling it commendable. However, he emphasised the urgency of ensuring full implementation across the state.
He set a series of deadlines for reviewing the progress of the implementation: monthly reviews by Gujarat's Chief Minister, fortnightly reviews by the State Home Minister, and weekly reviews at the levels of the Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary (Home), and Director General of Police.
A key point discussed was the state’s success in filing charge sheets within a timely manner, particularly in cases involving sentences of over 10 years. Gujarat has achieved over 92% timely filings, a significant accomplishment.
However, Shah also directed the state to review remaining cases, particularly those where delays might be encountered. The Home Minister recommended that the provision allowing courts to grant permission in such cases should be utilised more effectively.
Shah also addressed the need to upgrade the system for handling FIRs. He commended Gujarat for converting Zero FIRs into regular FIRs at a 100% rate and called for a system to enable FIR transfers between states using the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS). He suggested that Gujarat should adopt CCTNS 2.0 to improve the efficiency of this system.
The provision for electronic evidence in the new criminal laws was another important topic of discussion. Shah urged the Home and Health Departments to collaborate on ensuring that medical reports, including post-mortem findings, are received electronically from hospitals.
He also recommended setting up video conferencing facilities in prisons, government hospitals, forensic science laboratories, and banks to record evidence remotely. Every court in prisons, he suggested, should have its own video conferencing cubicle.
The Home Minister also emphasised the importance of police transparency, directing that details of individuals detained for questioning, along with a seizure list, should be uploaded onto an electronic dashboard.
This would allow for easy access to data about cases being forwarded to courts. Moreover, Shah ordered that the state’s network connectivity speed in police stations should be upgraded to at least 30 Mbps.
Another significant point raised by Shah was the importance of ensuring that laws related to organised crime, terrorism, and mob lynching are not misused.
He instructed the Gujarat government to issue circulars that would ensure these provisions are only used with the highest level of approval.
He also drew attention to the Trial in Absentia provision within the BNSS, which allows for legal action against absconding criminals, and called for its application to fugitives involved in national security-related cases.
In terms of forensic science, Shah recommended that Gujarat ensure the availability of at least two mobile forensic science vans in each district. He also proposed that all forensic kits used in these vans should be manufactured in India.
The Home Minister applauded the state's initiative to introduce a Forensic Crime Manager and called for other states to follow suit. He stressed the need to clear pending forensic cases through a special campaign and urged the prompt recruitment of forensic experts to fill vacant positions.
Shah also praised the Gujarat High Court’s decision to implement e-processes in all subordinate courts by January 22, 2025, and suggested that other states should adopt similar measures.
Furthermore, he encouraged the Gujarat government to expedite the recruitment of vacant positions in the directorate of prosecution and ensure that judicial officers receive appropriate training, particularly in coordination with judicial academies.
The review meeting, which was attended by Gujarat's Minister of State for Home, the Union Home Secretary, and senior officials from both the Union and state governments, was an important step towards the complete rollout of these new criminal laws.
Shah's directives aim to streamline the judicial process and ensure that justice is delivered efficiently and fairly throughout Gujarat.
Follow us
