Soon after Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday urged the Maharashtra government to implement the three new criminal laws across all police commissionerates in the state, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that the state would 'completely' roll out the new laws within the next six months.
Chairing a review meeting here on the implementation of the criminal laws in Maharashtra in presence of Fadnavis, Shah said that the state government should create a Directorate of Prosecution in accordance with the new criminal laws. He said efforts should be made to achieve over 90% conviction rate in cases with sentences of more than seven years.
Shah also said senior police officers should regularly monitor cases of organised crime, terrorism and mob lynching to prevent the misuse the law. He also called for having a system for recording evidence through video conferencing in facilities such as prisons, government hospitals, banks and Forensic Science Laboratories (FSL).
The Home Minister also demanded implementation of a system where FIRs can be transferred between two states through the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) and urged Maharashtra to adopt CCTNS 2.0 and ICJS 2.0.
Speaking to reporters, Fadnavis shared that Maharashtra has already made significant strides in implementing the new laws and mentioned that 27 vans have been deployed to enhance forensic infrastructure for cases older than seven years.
“Cases will be heard in court via videoconferencing, and the accused will not have to be presented in court time and again,” he added.
Additionally, he stated that the state has established online systems for courts, but under the new provisions, dedicated and designated cubicles needed to be set up in courts and forensic labs.
Furthermore, Fadnavis said that 90% of Maharashtra's police force has already been trained to implement the new laws.
“We have established online systems for courts, but according to the new law, we have to set up a designated, dedicated and notified cubicle in courts and forensic labs. We have started working on this, and it will be completed in the next 6 months,” the CM stated.
