Daijiworld Media Network- Goa
Goa, Mar 4: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday reviewed the progress of implementing three new criminal laws in Goa, urging the state to set an example by becoming a model in effective enforcement.
The meeting, attended by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Goa Director General of Police Alok Kumar, and senior officials from the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD), National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), focused on ensuring swift justice under the new legal framework.
According to an MHA statement, Shah emphasized that the primary objective of the three new criminal laws—introduced under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi—is to deliver justice efficiently. He called upon Goa to lead by example in executing these laws effectively.
Shah stressed the necessity of adhering to strict timelines in investigation and prosecution to expedite justice. He urged officials to achieve a 90% conviction rate in cases carrying a punishment of over seven years and mandated the registration of all Investigation Officers (IOs) on the e-Sakshya platform. Additionally, he set a deadline of March 31, 2025, for the complete implementation of e-Summons in Goa.
The Home Minister also underscored the need for senior police officers to closely monitor cases related to organized crime, terrorism, and mob lynching to prevent the misuse of relevant legal provisions. He instructed that Superintendent of Police-level approval must be obtained before registering cases under these sections. Furthermore, he directed authorities to ensure that property recovered from criminals is returned to its rightful owners as per the provisions of the new laws.
Shah reiterated that senior officers must continuously assess the implementation progress of the three new laws—the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam—which replaced the Indian Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure, and the Indian Evidence Act of 1872 respectively, and came into effect on July 1, 2024.