West Bengal govt constitutes special seven-member panel to scrutinize new criminal laws
Jul 17, 2024
Howrah (West Bengal) [India], July 17 : The West Bengal government constituted a special seven-member committee to scrutinize three new criminal laws, including the Bhartiya Nayay Sanhita, before implementing them in the state.
In a notification issued by the government of West Bengal, it informed that Asim Kumar Roy, Malay Ghatak, Chandrima Bhattacharya, LD Advocate General Kishore Dutta, Sanjay Basu, West Bengal Police DG Rajiv Kumar and Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal are members of this committee.
The notification further said that the Committee shall have the power to engage academic experts, senior advocates, research assistants, and other legal experts to seek their views on the subject matter. "The Committee shall also have the power to carry out public consultation and seek opinion from the public," the notification added.
The government in its notification added further, "Given the importance and wide-ranging implications of the three laws; the State Government deems it necessary to constitute a Committee that shall examine the following--Suggest state-specific amendments as required to the three Criminal Laws; whether the names of the Criminal Laws are required to be changed at the state level and any other matter that the Committee may consider necessary."
Under the new criminal laws, which came into force on July 1, 2024, FIR is to be recorded within three days of complaints submitted through electronic communication, providing impetus to the initial phase of criminal cases. The competent court has to now frame charges within sixty days from the first hearing on the charge.
A novel inclusion in the new criminal laws is the introduction of trial in absentia against proclaimed offenders after ninety days from charge framing, expediting proceedings and ensuring timely delivery of justice to victims and society at large.
The criminal courts have now been mandated to pronounce judgements within 45 days after a trial stands concluded to ensure swift justice delivery. Further, the said courts have to upload the judgement within seven days from the date of pronouncement, on their respective portals, improving access to justice for all.
