New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah conducted a review meeting on Tuesday, February 19, 2025, in the national capital to assess the implementation of the newly enacted criminal laws in Jammu and Kashmir. The meeting, held at the North Block, was attended by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.
Discussions focused on the current status of various provisions related to police, prisons, courts, prosecution, and forensic procedures under the three recently introduced criminal laws— the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023; Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023; and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), 2023. These laws replaced the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and the Indian Evidence Act, respectively. Several senior officials participated in the meeting, including the Union Home Secretary, the Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir, the state’s Director General of Police, the Director General of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), and key representatives from both the Union Home Ministry and the Union Territory administration.
Earlier in February, Amit Shah had conducted a similar review meeting with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, emphasizing the need for swift implementation of these laws across all commissionerates in the state. Over the past few months, Shah has held discussions with several other states to oversee the enforcement of the new legal framework, including Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Haryana. In an earlier meeting with various states and Union Territories, the Home Minister highlighted that the core objective of these reforms, introduced under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, was to ensure justice is delivered within three years—starting from
Following the review meeting on Jammu and Kashmir’s progress in implementing these laws, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah acknowledged the region’s efforts, stating that their role had been largely effective, though certain areas requiring improvement were identified and would be addressed. He remarked, “The Home Minister has been continuously assessing the implementation of these laws across the country. This time, Jammu and Kashmir was under review. Previously, assessments were conducted for 11 other states and Union Territories. Our role in the implementation of these laws has been largely positive. However, where there were minor shortcomings, they have been noted and will be corrected.”
The Chief Minister further stressed the need for awareness campaigns to familiarize the public with these new criminal laws, particularly in educational institutions and community settings. He pointed out that, while law enforcement in a Union Territory is not the responsibility of the elected government, it still has a role in ensuring that citizens are well-informed. “Although it is not our direct responsibility to enforce the law in a Union Territory, given that these are new legal provisions, people need to be made aware of them. The elected government must take initiatives, whether through universities, colleges, or social and political platforms. This was also part of the discussion,” Abdullah added.