Union Home Secretary Reviews Implementation of New Criminal Laws in AP

Vijayawada: Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan held a video conference with Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary K. Vijayanand and DGP Harish Kumar Gupta on Wednesday to review steps for the effective implementation of the country’s new criminal laws. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) recently came into force, replacing the IPC, CrPC and Indian Evidence Act, respectively.

Mohan emphasized the need to upgrade infrastructure in police stations, courts, prisons and forensic laboratories for smooth enforcement.

He directed the state to strengthen the forensic ecosystem, fill vacancies on a contract basis, and adopt 100% audio-video recording at crime scenes. He also called for integrating FIRs into e-Sakshya and ensuring video conferencing facilities in courts, prisons and key offices.

Mohan praised AP Police for innovation measures such as zero FIRs, e-FIRs, modernisation of forensic labs, citizen portals, SMS/email alerts and the Shakti app.

CS Vijayanand apprised the Central official of video conferencing being already available at district and mandal-level offices in AP. DGP Gupta added that steps were being taken to ensure full video recording at crime scenes and to register all FIRs electronically.

Prisons DG Anjani Kumar, Additional DG N. Madhusudhan Reddy and DIG Varaprasad also attended the meeting.