Chhattisgarh to play effective role for new criminal laws: CM

RAIPUR/NEW DELHI(INDIA): Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday to review the rollout of the new criminal laws and discuss the state’s ongoing efforts to eliminate Naxalism and promote development in the Bastar region. The meeting also focused on strengthening Chhattisgarh’s law enforcement and justice systems.

Key officials from both the Union Home Ministry and the Chhattisgarh government, including State Home Minister Vijay Sharma, were present.

The leaders reviewed the implementation of three newly introduced legal codes—the Indian Judicial Code, the Indian Civil Defense Code, and the Indian Evidence Act. These laws introduce several changes affecting the police, judicial, prison, prosecution, and forensic systems. Chief Minister Sai said that Chhattisgarh has completed both administrative and technical preparations for the transition. The state has implemented 27 types of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and over 37,000 police personnel have been trained. Infrastructure upgrades across police stations, courts, and jails have introduced digital systems for handling evidence and remote hearings.

So far, the state has registered more than 53,000 FIRs under the new laws, with charge sheets filed in about half the cases. The Chief Minister also updated the Home Minister on progress in anti-Naxal operations, reporting that several high-profile Naxalites have either been neutralized, arrested, or have surrendered in recent months.

Development initiatives such as the Niyad Nelanar Yojana, Bastar Olympics, and the creation of tourism facilities and women’s safety centres have helped steer local youth toward mainstream opportunities. The CM reiterated the state’s goal to make Chhattisgarh Naxal-free by 2026 and to turn Bastar into a prominent tourist destination.

Amit Shah praised the state’s progress and called for full and swift implementation of the new laws. He emphasized that the central objective is to simplify and modernize the justice system, making it more efficient and citizen-focused.