The state cabinet today extended the jurisdiction of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS or Indian Civil Protection Code in English) 2023, which is meant to replace the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), in Meghalaya.
Government spokesperson and cabinet minister Paul Lyngdoh informed that the extension of the BNSS to Meghalaya has been done by issuance of a notification under Subsection 2 of Section 1 of the act with effect from July 1, 2024.
The central government had notified that by that date the BNSS 2023 should come into force and replace the CrPC.
Under the BNSS, forensic policing should receive a boost as it will become mandatory for forensic experts to examine crime scenes in categories of crime that are heinous in nature and where punishment is seven years imprisonment or more.
The state government, through the Directorate of Forensic Sciences, had submitted a proposal seeking the approval of the cabinet to notify the guidelines for compulsory forensic crime scene investigation.
The cabinet, therefore, considered and approved this proposal and under this, there will be mobile vehicles that will serve as forensic science investigation teams available at all district headquarters, Lyngdoh said. The process of recruiting more officials in the Directorate of Forensic Sciences is ongoing.
Cyril Diengdoh, Secretary in the Law Department, said that the BNSS 2023 will not be applicable in the district council courts as per Para 4 and 5 of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. Even the CrPC was not extended to the district council courts as they have their own procedures.
