Chandigarh, seven other UTs to be first to implement three criminal laws, says Amit Shah

The three Bills —The Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, 2023 Bill; Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita, 2023; and Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Bill (BSB) 2023 — were passed in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

3 min readChandigarhUpdated: Dec 23, 2023 06:58 AM IST

Amit Shah, Chandigarh, Union Territories, crime Bills, parliament passes crime Bills, Indian express news, current affairs

Union Home Minister Amit Shah with UT Administrator Banwarilal Purohit in Chandigarh on Friday. Kamleshwar Singh

Chandigarh along with seven other Union Territories will be the first to implement the three criminal laws, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said Friday.

“The framework to implement three laws in Chandigarh will be finalised today. The framework will be completed in other UTs till January 31 next year. Once the laws are implemented, it is my confidence that every criminal case will be disposed of within a period of three years,” Shah said.

The three Bills —The Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, 2023 Bill; Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita, ߧ and Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Bill (BSB) 2023 — were passed in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

Targeting the Opposition, Shah said, “It was my personal wish that suggestions of the Opposition should also be included in the Bills. But the Opposition stayed away from the debate.”

Without mentioning Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the Home Minister said, “A senior Congress leader was making videos of the mimicry of the honorable Vice-President outside Parliament when the debate on three Bills was going on inside. The Opposition demeaned the constitutional posts. People of this country will never forget it. Governments come and go but we should maintain the dignity of the constitutional posts.”

Addressing the gathering, Shah, who arrived in Chandigarh from Kurushetra after attending Gita Mahotsav, lauded the efforts of Chandigarh Police to implement the E-beat system and said that other states’ police forces are also working on the same pattern.

“Infrastructure of all kinds is being developed in the country at the international level. We have already upgraded the CCTNS (Crime and Criminal Tracking and Network System) and ICJS (Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System) to achieve the task of implementing three new laws in the country,” he said.

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Shah chairs meet with Chandigarh Police on 3 laws — first with any UT

A day after passing three amended Bills, Union Home Minister Amit Shah Friday chaired the first high-level meeting with any of the state/UT police forces pertaining to these laws in Chandigarh.

“Crafted with a deep respect for Indian values and justice traditions, these laws signify a departure from our colonial legacy. The laws usher in transformative reforms, aiming to ensure swift justice for victims, digital transformation of legal processes, transparency in investigations, time-bound outcomes, and rigorous forensic examinations of crime scenes,” he said, underscoring the underlying principles behind the formulation of these three laws. The meeting was held in the Conference Room of CenCOPS in Sector 18.

In his close door meeting with all IPS rank officers, including DGP Praveer Ranjan and SSP Kanwaljeet Kaur, the Home Minister highlighted the imperative for synchronised reforms across all facets of the criminal justice system, with a particular emphasis on courts and prisons. He urged for proactive measures to expedite the adoption of these laws across states and Union Territories, commending the preliminary groundwork undertaken by NCRB and BPRD.
He stressed the delineation of a forward-looking strategy for the seamless implementation of these laws, emphasising enhancements in technology, infrastructure, structural reforms and comprehensive training. He called upon all officials to collaborate and drive the timely and efficient implementation of these transformative pieces of legislation.

Administrator Banwarilal Purohit, Home Secretary Nitin Yadav and officers from the Central agencies were present in the meeting.

Saurabh Parashar

Saurabh Parashar is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, primarily responsible for the publication’s coverage of Himachal Pradesh. He is a seasoned journalist with over 17 years of experience in print media, specializing in crime, legal affairs, and investigative reporting. Professional Background Education: He holds a Master’s degree in Mass Communication from Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology (Hisar) and a Law degree from Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), Shimla. This legal background significantly informs his reporting on complex judicial and administrative matters. Career Path: Before joining The Indian Express in 2017, he spent 12 years with The Times of India. Core Beats: His primary focus is the socio-political landscape of the hill state, with a specific emphasis on the environment, forest conservation, drug menace (specifically "Chitta"), affairs related to tribal and archaeology and the unique challenges of governance in high-altitude regions. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His recent reporting highlights the critical intersection of policy, law, and social safety in Himachal Pradesh: 1. "Himachal’s battle against Chitta: Why the border areas are most vulnerable" (Late 2025): An investigative look at the transit routes from Punjab and the impact on local youth. 2. "Shimla ropeway clears key hurdle as 820 trees face the axe :According to the Forest Survey of India’s 2021 assessment, 47.21 percent of Shimla’s 5,131 sq km geographical area is under forest cover (Nov 17, 2025). 3. "Himachal to handover 2.7427 ha of non-forest land for Shimla Ropeway: Given the land’s non-forest nature, RTDC and the state will not require permission from MoEFCC" (Nov 18, 2025) 4. "How the centuries-old Jodidara tradition is fading in Himachal’s Trans-Giri region: Jodidara: a form of fraternal polyandry—has long been part of Hatti tribal culture in the Trans-Giri region of Himachal Pradesh and adjoining Uttarakhand. It is believed to have evolved to prevent division of ancestral land and maintain unity among brothers in the harsh, mountainous terrain" (Aug 18, 2025) Legal & Agricultural Affairs "Kisan Sabha hails SC’s setting aside Himachal HC order to remove orchards from forest land" (Dec 18, 2025): Covering a major Supreme Court victory for farmers, where a High Court order to remove fruit-bearing apple orchards was overturned. "Himachal Cabinet nod to new tourism policy; focus on home-stays in tribal areas" (Dec 11, 2025): Detailing the legislative push to decentralize tourism and bring economic benefits to Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur. 3. Governance & Environment "Forest rights and development: Why Himachal is seeking more leeway from Centre" (Dec 19, 2025): Reporting on the legal hurdles faced by the state in infrastructure projects due to the Forest Conservation Act. "Cloudbursts and resilience: How Himachal’s remote villages are building back better" (Nov 2025): Following up on the long-term rehabilitation efforts after monsoon-related disasters. Crime especially cyber crimes, crypto currency etc: crypto currency: "Agents in uniform, motivational speeches, lavish parties: How a Himachal crypto con went unnoticed:A serial conman, a ‘Nelson Mandela Nobel Peace Award winner', and retired policemen got together to pull off a Rs 1,740-crore fraud" (Nov 10, 2023) Signature Beats Saurabh is recognized for his tenacious reporting on the state's drug epidemic. His deep familiarity with the topography and tribal culture of Himachal allows him to report from remote locations like Spiti, Pangi, Shillai, which are often overlooked by national media. His legal expertise makes him a primary choice for covering the Himachal Pradesh High Court on issues ranging from local body elections to environmental PILs. X (Twitter): @saurabh_prashar . ... Read More

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