Register cases without any political interference, says Amit Shah

Guwahati, March 16: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah underscored the importance of registering crimes promptly and without delay, emphasizing that robust law enforcement would significantly improve law and order in the region.

He highlighted that once the new laws are fully implemented, they would lead to quicker legal resolutions, ensuring that justice is delivered by the Supreme Court within three years of an FIR being registered.

Union Home Minister chaired a high-level review meeting today in Guwahati to assess the implementation of three new criminal laws across the North-Eastern states. The meeting was attended by Chief Ministers from Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, and Sikkim, along with the Governor of Manipur. Senior officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), including the Union Home Secretary, Chief Secretaries, and Director Generals of Police from the North-Eastern states, were also present.

During the meeting, Amit Shah unveiled a book titled ‘New Criminal Laws: Standard Operating Procedures and Rules’, prepared by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Assam. The book aims to serve as a comprehensive guide for the effective enforcement of the newly enacted legal provisions.

Shah stressed that police stations should become centers of justice at the grassroots level and praised Assam for successfully filing charge sheets within the mandated 60-90 days in 66% of cases. He urged other states to adopt similar best practices while stressing the need for continuous progress tracking.

The Home Minister requested that Chief Ministers conduct monthly review meetings on the laws’ implementation. Additionally, he instructed Director Generals of Police and Chief Secretaries to convene a review session every 15 days.

He urged all North-Eastern states to intensify efforts toward the seamless adoption of the legal framework and to ensure that cases related to terrorism, mob lynching, and organized crime are registered without any political interference.

He also emphasized the urgency of implementing e-Sakshya, a digital forensic evidence management system, highlighting the necessity of appointing more scientific officers to improve forensic investigations. Additionally, he encouraged the use of the “Trial in Absentia” provision to bring fugitive criminals to justice.

The Home Minister pointed out that, historically, policing in the North-East was primarily focused on countering insurgency. With insurgency now largely under control, he urged law enforcement agencies to shift their focus toward safeguarding people’s lives, property, and dignity. He further noted that the Modi government introduced these three new laws after an extensive deliberation process spanning nearly 45 months, ensuring their effectiveness in delivering justice.

He directed state administrations to train 100% of police personnel in the new criminal laws to facilitate their smooth execution.

The meeting focused on the current status and challenges in implementing these new laws, particularly regarding police operations, prison administration, judicial procedures, prosecution mechanisms, and forensic capabilities.

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