Amit Shah, Chhattisgarh CM to Discuss Rollout of New Criminal Laws

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will preside over a top-level meeting with Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and top state officials to evaluate the implementation of India's newly enacted criminal codes — the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA). These bills, which substitute colonial Indian Penal Code (IPC), Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), and Indian Evidence Act, will make India's legal system contemporary in character by enhancing victim rights, digital evidence, and rapid judgments.

The session would concentrate on readiness in the logistics, such as forensic, judiciary, and police team training, and infrastructure development to the standards of the law, e.g., crime scene videography and zero FIR. State-specific concerns such as Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) and tribal rights issues will be dealt with through customized protocols.

The government has already launched police and prosecution officer training workshops focusing on prioritization of terrorism crimes, organized crime crimes, and gender-sensitive procedures by the laws. The visit signals the Centre's initiative to pursue uniform adoption by the states prior to the July 1, 2024 deadline of implementation. The visit comes on the heels of such reviews in BJP-ruled states, being the government's zeal for "zero tolerance" to tardiness in adopting the new model. 

Information gaps in tribal areas have been a concern identified by civil society organizations, one officials seek to address through multi-lingual campaigns. Other states with security and governance issues can be replicated by the success of the laws in Chhattisgarh.