Amit Shah Calls for Faster Criminal Case Disposal by 2029

*Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah chairs Central Zonal Council Meet in Bastar; Hails region becoming Naxal-Free* *Union Min. credits Shri Modi Government’s Whole-of-Government Approach for ending Naxalism and boosting development* *Zonal Council Meetings triple since 2014; Shri Shah calls for faster disposal of criminal cases by 2029* Raipur, May 19, 2026 / Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah on Tuesday chaired the 26th meeting of the Central Zonal Council in Bastar, Chhattisgarh. The meeting was attended by Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Shri Yogi Adityanath and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami, along with senior officials from the member states and the Government of India. The meeting was organised by the Inter-State Council Secretariat under the Union Home Ministry and hosted by the Government of Chhattisgarh. Addressing the meeting, Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah said it was a matter of immense pleasure and that the region had become free from Naxalism even before the meeting. He credited the achievement to the bravery of security forces, precise intelligence inputs by agencies, coordinated action by state police forces and the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), and the Whole of Government Approach adopted by State Governments and Central Government departments to accelerate development in Naxal-affected areas. Shri Amit Shah said the fight is not over yet, as Naxal-affected regions still needed to catch up in development after decades of neglect. He said efforts would continue until these areas matched the rest of the country’s progress, and congratulated Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on the country becoming free from Naxalism. He said the Chhattisgarh Government received full support from the Union Home Ministry in the anti-Naxal campaign, while the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister provided strong leadership that helped make Bastar Naxal-free. Shri Amit Shah said the resolution of pending disputes among states and between the states and the Centre had helped create a positive atmosphere for the meeting. He noted that the discussions were focused entirely on monitoring development-related issues. Citing the regular conduct of Zonal Council meetings under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Shri Shah said the process had strengthened cooperative federalism and enabled the settlement of disputes among the four states and Centre-state issues across the region. Union Home and Cooperation Minister said the Central Zonal Council includes Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. From the Himalayan region in the north to the plains of the Ganga-Yamuna and the plateau, forest-rich and mineral-rich regions of central India, this area plays a vital role in the country’s development. He said the region contributes significantly to the nation’s food reserves, while its rich mineral resources accelerate national development. The rich heritage and culture of the region have also contributed to the country’s progress. Most of the country’s major centres of faith are also located in this region. He added that Chhattisgarh connects nearly seven states, making the entire central region strategically important. The region had now become not only free from Naxalism but also free from disputes, which was a matter of great satisfaction for everyone, he added. Shri Amit Shah said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Zonal Council meetings have emerged as a decisive and result-oriented mechanism of cooperative federalism. He noted that between 2004 and 2014, only 11 meetings of the Zonal Councils were held, whereas from 2014 to 2026 the number rose to 32. Similarly, the number of Standing Committee meetings increased from 14 in the earlier decade to 35 during the current period. He said only 569 issues were discussed between 2004 and 2014, while from 2014 to 2026, discussions were held on 1,729 issues, of which nearly 80 per cent have been successfully resolved. Most of the remaining pending issues are related only to monitoring, with no disputes left unresolved. Pointing out the focus on potable water supply, Shri Shah said that Jal Jeevan Mission-2 should be implemented widely to ensure tap water reaches every household. He said health, nutrition and social welfare are highly sensitive issues and called upon all Chief Ministers and Chief Secretaries to work shoulder to shoulder with the Government of India in the fight against malnutrition. He also stressed the need for further efforts to reduce school dropout rates and improve the quality of education. Financial inclusion and power sector reforms, he said, can significantly contribute to making the region fully developed. Shri Amit Shah said greater speed is needed in the areas of urban planning, public health, financial inclusion and power reforms. He appealed that at least 50 % of focus should remain on rural development and schemes that strengthen individuals. Home Minister said ensuring banking facilities within every 5-kilometre radius was a major achievement because all government schemes are based on Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). Therefore, all states need to make concrete efforts in this direction. Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah said that timely DNA testing in POCSO and rape cases could ensure a 100 per cent conviction rate. High Courts should establish special courts for speedy disposal of cases pending for more than five years and added that governments must demonstrate seriousness in dealing with heinous crimes. He urged the Chief Ministers of all four states to implement the format prescribed by the Union Home Ministry for the 1930 Helpline and upgrade their call centres accordingly. He encouraged for proper publicity regarding registered cases and penalties imposed in adulteration-related offences to ensure public health and safety against adulterated products and establishments. Underlining the successful implementation of the three new criminal laws Shri Shah said that it had been quiet effective, but requires stronger implementation in several areas. Just as the country had been freed from Naxalism, the target of taking every criminal case to its logical conclusion up to the Supreme Court within three years must be achieved before 2029.