Srinagar, June 25: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo Tuesday assessed Jammu and Kashmir’s preparedness to implement the new criminal laws.
In a meeting with all the concerned stakeholders, the chief secretary reviewed J&K’s preparedness to implement the new criminal laws scheduled to come into force in J&K from July this year.
He called these laws modern in their outlook where technology and efficiency have greater roles to play.
The chief secretary asked to create the necessary ambience and infrastructural framework to implement these new laws smoothly and successfully for our law enforcement organisations.
He emphasised the framing of prerequisite frameworks like issuance of notifications and statutory orders in advance.
The chief secretary also asked for the development of the remaining patch software components by the NIC without any delay.
He stressed on orientation of doctors for using apps and managing cases under the purview of these laws.
The chief secretary took stock of capacity building and training of concerned staff in different organisations like Police, Prisons and Prosecution.
He said that the collective objective should be to implement these laws effectively in J&K.
The chief secretary also enquired about the sensitisation of police personnel posted at local police stations.
He termed the role of Investigation Officers (IOs) pivotal for they are the primary stakeholders to implement these laws on the ground.
The chief secretary stressed making them fully acquainted with all the amendments that had been made in such laws in addition to the use of newly launched mobile applications meant for speedy trial and disposal of cases.
He also took notice of necessary amendments to be incorporated into the Police Manual.
The chief secretary enquired about the changes to be made in the rationalisation or creation of posts, seeking clarifications from the Law Department and integration of different portals with the rechristened apparatus of law enforcement agencies.
In its presentation, the Police Department threw light on different initiatives taken up by them for the smooth implementation of these laws. The meeting was apprised that the department is going to organise ‘Thana Diwas’ at all the Police Stations across J&K on July 1 to create mass awareness and celebrate its enforcement together with the whole of the country.
Regarding the creation of awareness among the stakeholders, it was revealed that the department had initiated the ‘One Day One University’ programme.
It was said that it had also held 76 awareness camps and designated 12 officers for media interactions and discussions.
It was informed that mobile phones and hard disks had also been procured for IOs and digital signature stands created for them.
It was revealed that the department was all set to implement these laws from the stipulated date.
It was informed that to date nearly 16,914 police personnel had been trained in police training institutions in addition to 161 Master Trainers.
In addition, 120 Prosecutors had been imparted necessary training while 115 newly appointed would also be trained shortly.
Regarding preparations by Forensic Science Laboratories, it was revealed that 48 different posts had been created recently.
The training of staff had been done jointly with the Judicial Academy.
Besides, the department is in the process of procuring 23 Mobile Forensic Vans from NFSU, Gujarat.
The meeting further deliberated over the resources and manpower requirements besides the integration of different apps as per the provisions of respective acts.
It also had discourse over the changes to be made in Prisons, Prosecution and other allied departments concerning their implementation.
It was also revealed that the committees and study groups have been constituted for the successful implementation of these vital laws in J&K.
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam have recently been notified by the MHA for implementation of these new laws from July 2024.
These are going to replace the Indian Penal Code, 1860, the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872.
The Director General of Police (DGP), Principal Secretary Home, DG Prisons, DG, Prosecution, SDG, Crime, ADGP Headquarters, Secretary Health, Secretary Law, Director FSL and other concerned officers participated in the meeting while outstation officers participated virtually.