Union Home Minister Amit Shah has urged High Courts across India to establish special courts dedicated to expediting cases that have been pending for over five years. The call was made during the 26th meeting of the Central Zonal Council (CZC) held in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh.
Shah emphasized the potential for significantly increasing conviction rates in cases registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and rape cases through timely DNA testing. He suggested that such proactive measures could potentially lead to a 100 percent conviction rate in these particular offenses.
As per information available with TahirRihat.com, the meeting saw the participation of several key figures, including Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, along with other senior officials. The discussions primarily revolved around monitoring developmental initiatives such as Jal Jeevan Mission-2, along with improvements in nutrition, health, education, financial inclusion, and reforms within the power sector.
Shah expressed his satisfaction with the meeting being held in Bastar, particularly after what he termed the “historic milestone” of achieving a Naxal-free India. He credited the success to the relentless efforts and bravery of the security forces, highlighting the coordinated intelligence operations involving state police and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) that facilitated decisive action against Naxalites. The Union Home Minister also noted the importance of simultaneous development initiatives in regions previously affected by Naxalism, emphasizing the “Whole of Government Approach” that involves collaborative efforts between state governments and central departments.
Shah acknowledged that the fight against Naxalism is ongoing, as affected areas have lagged in development for nearly five decades. The objective remains to bring these regions on par with the rest of the country. He highlighted the positive and cordial atmosphere of the CZC meeting, where contentious issues between states, and between states and the Central government, were addressed and resolved.
The Union Home Minister stressed the critical role of timely DNA testing in POCSO and rape cases, reiterating its potential to elevate conviction rates substantially. He emphasized the necessity for High Courts to prioritize the establishment of special courts to expedite the resolution of cases that have remained pending for extended periods, underlining the importance of administrative seriousness in handling serious crimes. He also called for collaborative efforts between chief ministers and chief secretaries, urging them to work alongside the Government of India to combat malnutrition effectively.
Further discussions during the meeting included reducing school dropout rates and enhancing the quality of education. Shah underscored the significance of ensuring banking facilities within a five-kilometer radius, recognizing that most welfare schemes rely on Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanisms. He also urged states to adopt the Union Home Ministry’s model format for establishing 1930 cybercrime helplines and to modernize their call centers. In cases of food adulteration, Shah advocated for the widespread publicity of penalties imposed on guilty establishments to raise public awareness.
Referring to the implementation of the new criminal laws, Shah acknowledged the effective rollout of the three “Naveen Nyaya Sanhitas” but emphasized the need for continued focus on specific aspects. The government’s aim is to ensure the disposal of every criminal case, including those reaching the Supreme Court, within three years before the year 2029, (Shah said).
Highlighting the role of Zonal Councils, Shah asserted that India’s federal structure has been strengthened under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, with regular council meetings facilitating the resolution of disputes among states and between states and the Centre. He contrasted the period between 2004 and 2014, when only 11 Zonal Council meetings were held, with the period between 2014 and 2026, which saw 32 meetings. Additionally, Standing Committee meetings increased from 14 to 35 during the same timeframe. The number of issues discussed at these meetings rose from 569 to 1,729, with nearly 80 percent of them being resolved, (Shah noted).
Shah clarified that many of the remaining pending issues relate to monitoring, which does not involve disputes. The Central Zonal Council comprises the states of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. Shah emphasized the strategic significance of this region, which spans from the Himalayas to the Gangetic plains and mineral-rich central Indian plateaus, for the country’s food security, economic development, and cultural heritage. He said that Chhattisgarh’s connectivity to nearly seven states gives the Central Zone immense strategic importance and noted the region’s transformation into a Naxal-free and dispute-free zone.
Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an independent journalist, activist, and digital media professional from the Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He is best known for his work as the Online Editor at The Chenab Times.
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