West Bengal Government Sets Up Special Committee for New Criminal Law Scrutiny

The West Bengal government has formed a seven-member committee to scrutinize and potentially amend three new criminal laws, effective from July 1, 2024. The laws include rapid FIR filing, charge framing, and trial in absentia, aimed at expediting justice delivery.

In a move to ensure the thorough examination of three new criminal laws, the West Bengal government has constituted a special seven-member committee. The laws, including the Bhartiya Nayay Sanhita, will undergo scrutiny before their implementation in the state, according to a government notification. The committee comprises Asim Kumar Roy, Malay Ghatak, Chandrima Bhattacharya, Advocate General Kishore Dutta, Sanjay Basu, West Bengal Police DG Rajiv Kumar, and Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal.

The notification detailed that the committee will have the authority to engage with academic experts, senior advocates, and other legal professionals for their insights. Additionally, public consultation will be sought to gather opinions on the new laws. The initiative underscores the necessity of state-specific amendments and considers whether the names of the laws should be altered at the state level, among other considerations.

The new criminal laws, effective from July 1, 2024, mandate the recording of FIRs within three days of a complaint via electronic communication, speeding up initial criminal proceedings. Charges must be framed within sixty days of the first hearing. Notably, the laws introduce trial in absentia for proclaimed offenders ninety days post charge framing, expediting the trial process. Verdicts are required within 45 days of trial conclusion, with judgments to be uploaded online within seven days, bolstering justice accessibility. (ANI)

(With inputs from agencies.)