Criminal laws: 'Procedural safeguards exist for states'

THOUGH the jury is still out on whether state governments are competent to make amendments to the three new criminal laws, constitutional experts say that states can bring in procedural safeguards without being in conflict with the central law.

- PREETHA NAIR

Recently, the Tamil Nadu government has ordered the setting up of a single judge committee to study the three laws and make recommendations to the state government over amendments.

Taking cue from Tamil Nadu, some of the Opposition-ruled states, including Karnataka, Kerala and West Bengal, are exploring ways to make state specific amendments to the central law. Several opposition leaders, including Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah urging him to keep the implementation of the three laws in abeyance.