Srinagar, Feb 18, KNT: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting in New Delhi to assess the implementation of India’s newly introduced criminal laws in Jammu and Kashmir. The meeting was attended by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, and top officials from both the central and J&K governments.
Despite law and order in the Union Territory being under the direct control of the Centre since the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019, Chief Minister Abdullah was present at the review meeting held at North Block, sources said.
The discussions focused on the rollout of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, which replaced the British-era Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, and Indian Evidence Act respectively. These laws, which came into effect on July 1 last year, aim to modernize India’s criminal justice system.
Jammu and Kashmir, given its unique security and administrative challenges, remains a key region for the enforcement of these reforms. The meeting reportedly evaluated the progress of implementation, potential obstacles, and the way forward.
The Centre has been closely monitoring governance and legal transitions in J&K, especially after the abrogation of Article 370 and the reorganization of the erstwhile state into two Union Territories. [KNT]
