U’khand ranks 1st in effective implementation of new criminal laws

Dehradun: Uttarakhand has secured the top rank in the national implementation of the inter-operable criminal justice system (ICJS) 2.0, scoring 93.46 on the latest ICJS/CCTNS (crime and criminal tracking network & systems) progress dashboard of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). The data, compiled up to Jan this year, places Haryana second with 93.41, followed by Assam (93.16), Sikkim (91.82) and Madhya Pradesh (90.55).Confirming the development, Uttarakhand Police spokesperson IG Sunil Kumar Meena said, "The state has set a benchmark not only in establishing the technological infrastructure but also in ensuring real-time data entry." He described the achievement as a "historic milestone" in the modernisation of India's judicial and law-enforcement systems.Meena added that to ensure the effective implementation of the new criminal laws -- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) -- the state's top leadership kept a close watch on the process.Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami held regular review meetings with senior govt officials as well as district-level field officers. These discussions helped resolve technical challenges in time and enabled the police department to successfully adapt to the new legal framework, the officer said.He further said that the foundation of this achievement lies in the "one data, one entry" mechanism under ICJS 2.0. "Through this system, seamless data flow was ensured among Police (CCTNS), e-Courts, e-prisons, e-prosecution and e-forensics. Once data is entered, it becomes instantly available to all concerned departments, reducing paperwork and accelerating case disposal. To enhance transparency, videography of crime scenes and the secure storage of digital evidence have been made mandatory through the e-sakshya app, Meena said.As part of the preparations, more than 23,000 police personnel in the state were given intensive training on the provisions of the new laws. Facilities such as virtual court hearings through ‘Nyaya Shruti' and the deployment of forensic mobile vans were also prioritised.