Cases under new penal code to conclude within 2 Years, will eradicate colonial legacies: Amit Shah

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah, presiding over the 26th Western Zonal Council meeting in Gandhinagar, said that India's transition to a new penal code would usher in a paradigm shift in the judicial system, ensuring that no court case would prolong beyond two years.

He attributed this transformation to the enactment of three new bills - the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill, 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita Bill, 2023, and Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, 2023 - recently introduced in Parliament.

Shah underscored, "After the passage of the three new Bills, no case can continue for more than two years. This will result in the elimination of 70% negative energy." The western zonal council meeting witnessed the presence of Chief Ministers from Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Goa, alongside the Administrators of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu.

Highlighting the significance of the impending legal reforms, Shah called upon all states to proactively develop the essential foundational infrastructure and capacity for the effective implementation of these new laws. Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, and other ministers and government officials were also in attendance at the meeting.

The contemplated reforms hold the promise of not only relinquishing colonial legacies but also establishing a standardised system of law and order management throughout the country, as explained by a senior official who participated in the meeting.

Drawing a comparative analysis between the functioning of the NDA and UPA governments, Shah emphasised that between 2014 and 2023, a total of 23 meetings of the Zonal Councils and 29 meetings of its Standing Committees took place. In contrast, the period from 2004 to 2014 saw 11 meetings of the Zonal Council and 14 meetings of the Standing Committees.

Shah underscored the pivotal role of Zonal Councils, highlighting that they have evolved from mere advisory bodies to influential entities that foster a robust bond of mutual understanding and cooperation across various domains. He asserted that the Zonal Councils serve as an indispensable platform for the spirit of cooperative federalism, facilitating the resolution of issues between the Centre and the States.