Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday chaired a high-level review meeting in New Delhi, urging the Odisha government to ensure complete implementation of the newly introduced criminal laws within six months. The meeting was held in the presence of Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and top officials from both the Centre and the state.

Shah emphasized that the coming decade would be transformative for Odisha, especially with its aspirations of becoming a hub for industrial and technological development. In this context, he asserted that robust enforcement of the new criminal laws would serve as a strong foundation for modern policing and judicial processes in the state.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the review focused on the readiness of Odisha’s law enforcement and judicial systems to adopt changes in policing, prosecution, forensic practices, and prison management brought in under the new legal framework. Top-level attendees included the Union Home Secretary, Odisha’s Chief Secretary, the state’s Director General of Police, as well as heads of the BPRD and NCRB.

Shah laid out a structured monitoring framework to ensure timely rollout. He directed the Odisha Home Secretary to conduct weekly reviews, while instructing the Chief Secretary and DGP to evaluate progress every fortnight. The Chief Minister himself, he said, should lead monthly reviews to keep the momentum intact.

Highlighting the urgency, Shah stated that Odisha must emerge as a model state in adopting legal reforms. “This is a historic opportunity. The three new criminal laws are not just changes on paper—they are the backbone of a secure, just, and modern India. Odisha must be at the forefront of this shift,” Shah reportedly told the officials.