the goan I network
PANAJI
The State government has appointed Chief Secretary Parimal Rai to head a panel which will review and recommend changes in major criminal laws including the Indian Penal Code, the Criminal Procedure Code, the Arms Act and Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.
The move to amend these major criminal statutes of the country, some of which are British time laws, is initiated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah purportedly to make them more relevant to present day law-and-order outlook and ensure speedy prosecution and justice.
The missive from Shah to the States directing appointment of the State level Committee for the review of the criminal laws was issued in September last.Apart from Rai who is the chairman, the committee asked to deliberate and suggest amendments, also has Goa’s Director General of Police as a member.
Other members include the Law Secretary, Special Secretary (Home), the Anti-Narcotic Cell head and Superintendent of Police, the Crime Branch head, both the district collectors of North and South Goa, the Director of Prosecution and the Superintendent of Police in charge of the North and South Goa district police.
According to the notification, the amendments being proposed should be focused on simplifying the procedures in dispensing criminal justice and at the same time ensuring ease of living for the citizen.
