Shillong, June 19: The state government on Wednesday approved the guidelines for compulsory forensic crime scene investigation as mandated by the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS), which will replace the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) from next month.

Addressing the media after the cabinet meeting, Social Welfare Minister Paul Lyngdoh said the government of India has notified that the BNSS, 2023 shall come into force and shall replace the CrPC by July 1, 2024.

“Hence the need to switchover to implementing the BNSS and since these criminal laws are coming into force with effect from July 1, the state government is supposed to notify the application of the BNSS, 2023 to facilitate the education of criminal justice, so this matter was considered by cabinet and it was clear since we were supposed to transit into the new arrangement and replacing the CrPC,” he said.

The minister also informed that accordingly the cabinet has also approved the guidelines for compulsory forensic crime scene investigation.

“With implementation of BNSS, 2023 it has become mandatory for the state to ensure that forensic experts visit crime scene. There are certain categories of crime, which are of a hideous nature where the punishment is seven years of imprisonment and above,” he said.

He added that under the new proposal submitted by the directorate of forensic sciences, there will be mobile vehicles, which will serve as a forensic science investigation team, which would be available at all district headquarters.

On the other hand, secretary in-charge home department, Cyril Diengdoh, said that the government is in the process of creating more posts for increasing the strength of forensic experts in the state.

When asked, Diengdoh said the BNSS will have no impact on the courts under district councils.

“The BNSS is very important that it is notified on time so that the courts will now follow the process and procedure of criminal justice as per the BNSS. BNSS is for all the courts which are the district and sessions judges, the judicial magistrate CGM courts. However, let me clarify that it does not apply to the district council courts,” he stated.

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