Guwahati: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, chaired a high-level review meeting in Guwahati today to assess the implementation of three new criminal laws across North-Eastern states. During the meeting, he also unveiled a book titled ‘New Criminal Laws: Standard Operating Procedures and Rules’, prepared by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Assam.
The meeting brought together key leaders, including the Chief Ministers of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, and Sikkim, along with the Governor of Manipur. Senior officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Union Home Secretary, Chief Secretaries, Director Generals of Police, and heads of law enforcement agencies also participated in the discussions.
Addressing the gathering, Amit Shah emphasized the Modi government’s commitment to establishing a fast, transparent, and efficient justice system. He underscored the importance of ensuring crime registration without delays and stressed that full implementation of the new criminal laws would significantly improve law and order in the region. “Once these laws are fully enforced, the Supreme Court will be able to deliver justice within three years of an FIR being filed,” he stated.
Shah urged the North-Eastern states to step up efforts to implement the new laws, particularly in handling cases related to terrorism, mob lynching, and organized crime. He asserted that there should be no political interference in filing such cases and called for the training of 100% of police personnel on the updated legal framework.
He further requested the Chief Ministers of the North-Eastern states to hold monthly review meetings on the progress of implementation. Additionally, he directed the Director Generals of Police and Chief Secretaries to conduct a review every 15 days to monitor law enforcement performance.
Highlighting the importance of grassroots administration, Shah stated that police stations must become centers of justice for the common people. He commended the Assam government for ensuring the filing of charge sheets within the stipulated timeframe of 60-90 days in 66% of cases and urged other states to adopt similar practices. He also called for the urgent implementation of the e-Sakshya digital platform to strengthen forensic investigations and improve prosecution success rates.
The Home Minister stressed the need to build a strong Director of Prosecution framework, which would help deliver justice more effectively. He noted that with insurgency now nearly eradicated in the North-East, police forces should shift their focus toward ensuring public safety and upholding the dignity of citizens.
Amit Shah concluded by stating that the Modi government’s introduction of the three new criminal laws followed nearly 45 months of extensive discussions and deliberations. He assured that their full implementation would bring about a transformative shift in India’s judicial and law enforcement systems.
