'Focus On Delivery Of Justice Than Punishment': Amit Shah On New Criminal Laws At DGP-IGP Meeting

Shah stressed on the need for training of officers from SHO to DGP levels for successful implementation of new criminal laws. 

Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasised the importance of integrating databases and using an AI-driven analytical approach to address new security concerns on Friday, news agency PTI reported. He also emphasised the universality of structures, size, and expertise of counter-terror mechanisms across the country as he opened the 58th conferences of DGPs and IGPs. Speaking about the new criminal laws, Shah stated: "New criminal justice laws focussed on delivery of justice instead of punishment."

He cited two significant decisions made by the Narendra Modi government, the National Education Policy and the passage of three criminal justice legislation to replace British-era statutes, and stated that the country will reach the "Amrit Kaal" in 2023.

Shah stressed on the need for training of officers from SHO to DGP levels for successful implementation of new criminal laws. 

The home minister emphasised the need of integrating datasets and using an AI-driven analytical approach to address rising security concerns.

He noted a general improvement in the country's security situation since 2014, particularly the reduction of violence in three crucial hotspots: Jammu and Kashmir, the Northeast, and areas afflicted by Left Wing Extremism.

For the proper execution of the three new laws, Shah emphasised the importance of educating police officers from Station House Officer (SHO) to DGP levels, as well as technological upgrades from police station to police headquarters.

He also emphasised the need of internal security in achieving Prime Minister Narendra Modi's goal of making India a prosperous nation by 2047.

The home minister said that the conference has evolved into a think tank over the years, supporting decision making and the formation of new security initiatives.

Other significant concerns to be considered at the annual conference include policing technology, left-wing extremism, jail reforms, pro-Khalistan activities, and terror assaults in Jammu and Kashmir, according to a Union Home Ministry official.

Around 250 officials in the levels of Director General of Police (DGP) and Inspector General of Police (IGP) are physically present at the conference, which is being held at the Rajasthan International Centre in Jaipur, while over 200 more are participating electronically.

According to the source, several officers have been charged with presenting presentations on certain topics such as counterterrorism, internet fraud, cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, operations of pro-Khalistan organisations, and left-wing extremism.

There will be extensive discussions about how to address all of these developing internal security problems.

According to his office, Modi will attend the conference on January 6-7.

Furthermore, the conference will discuss futuristic issues in police and security, such as the problems provided by emerging technologies like AI and deepfake, and how to cope with them.

The conference also allows for the identification of concrete action items and the monitoring of their success, which is submitted to the prime minister each year.

According to another source, the meeting is the result of protracted debates among police and intelligence professionals from the district, state, and national levels on specific issues.

Best practices from states and Union territories will be shared during the conference so that states may learn from one another.

The prime minister has taken a great interest in the conference since 2014.

This year's conference will also include free-flowing subject conversations throughout breakfast, lunch, and supper.

This would allow senior police officers to exchange their perspectives and suggestions with the prime minister on major policing and internal security problems impacting the country.

The annual meeting was conducted in New Delhi till 2013. The following year, after the Narendra Modi administration took office, it was decided to organise the event across the country, which was organised by the MHA and the Intelligence Bureau.

As a result, conferences were held in Guwahati in 2014, Dhordo in the Rann of Kutch in 2015, the National Police Academy in Hyderabad in 2016, the BSF Academy in Tekanpur in 2017, Kevadiya in 2018, the IISER in Pune in 2019, the Police Headquarters in Lucknow in 2021, and the National Agricultural Science Complex in Pusa in Delhi in 2023.

This year's conference, in keeping with tradition, will be held in Jaipur.

The number of business sessions and themes has greatly risen, with an emphasis on enhancing policing in the service of the people.

Prior to 2014, the discussions were mostly on national security. Since 2014, these conferences have had a dual focus on national security as well as basic policing concerns such as crime prevention and detection, community policing, law and order, and enhancing the police's image, among other things, according to another official.

Previously, the conference was focused on Delhi, with officials gathering exclusively for the meeting.

Since 2014, officials of all cadres and groups have benefited from living on the same grounds for two to three days, according to the official.

Direct engagement between the top brass of the police and the head of government has resulted in a convergence of views on critical difficulties confronting the country and the formation of actionable proposals, according to the official.

In recent years, the subjects have been chosen following extensive consultations with the highest levels of the police force.

Once chosen, many interactions on presentations are made in front of DGP committees to stimulate involvement and integrate suggestions from the field and from younger officers.

As a consequence, all presentations are now wide in scope, content-rich, and include a set of compelling, practical suggestions.

According to the official, extensive follow-up on suggestions from previous conferences has been the norm since 2015 and is the theme of the first business session, which was attended by the prime minister and the home minister.

The conference secretariat, directed by the Intelligence Bureau, closely monitors recommendations with the assistance of state nodal officials.

Decisions made at recent conferences resulted in substantial policy reforms that boosted policing, including greater requirements for successful police in rural and urban regions and improved ways of contemporary policing based on smart parameters, according to the official.