Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Friday in cases related to national security, there should be a trial against refugees who have been fleeing the country for a long time.
Reviewing the implementation of three new criminal laws with the Madhya Pradesh government team, Shah reiterated the need for a strong legal aid system to ensure justice for the poor and emphasized the importance of providing the necessary training for this purpose.
He said it is the government’s duty to ensure proper legal representation for the poor.
In cases related to national security, those who are not in court must be tried because of refugees who have fled the country for a long time, he said.
The Home Minister pointed out that India’s public security code includes provisions for trial in absentia, which allows action to be taken against fugitives.
He also urged the Madhya Pradesh government to ensure that the money allocated under the Inter-operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) is strictly used in accordance with the standards set by the central government.
During the discussion, Shah noted that a total of three new criminal laws introduced by the Modi government do justice within three years, from the filing of the Fire to the decision of the Supreme Court.
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, which came into effect on July 1 last year, replaced the colonial-era Indian Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Code and the Indian Evidence Act of 1872 respectively.
Acknowledging the efforts made so far by the government of Madhya Pradesh in implementing the new criminal laws, the home minister emphasized the need for their 100 percent implementation in the state at the outset.
He mentioned that before registering cases under the sections related to terrorism and organized crime, senior police officers must check whether the case is suitable for the use of those sections.
He stressed that any misuse of these legal provisions will undermine the sanctity of the new criminal laws.
Shah emphasized the need for continuous monitoring of conversion of Zero FIRs into regular FIRs. He also suggested to establish a system that will allow the transfer of FIRs between the two states through the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems.
He insisted on ensuring availability of more than one forensic science van in every district. Additionally, he emphasized the importance of creating a sufficient amount of suitable space in hospitals and prisons to facilitate the recording of evidence through videoconferencing.
The Minister of Interior said that the police should provide information about people arrested for investigation through an electronic dashboard.
Additionally, details of the list of seizures and cases sent to the courts should also be available on the dashboard.
He tasked the state police chief to ensure continuous monitoring of these matters.
Shah stressed on the recruitment of officers with knowledge of forensic science and suggested that the Madhya Pradesh government should sign an MoU with the National Forensic Science University for this purpose.
He noted that Madhya Pradesh is a leader in the use of e-samamoni and urged the state government to establish a program where officials from other states can visit Madhya Pradesh to understand the successful implementation of e-samamoni.
The Home Minister suggested that the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh should review the progress of implementing these three new laws every month, the chief secretary every 15 days, and the Director General of Police every week, along with officials from all relevant departments.
He also directed the DGP to sensitize all police personnel, stressing that timely delivery of justice should be their priority.