Kashmir Impulse Desk
Srinagar, Sep 29
The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Tuesday passed legislation to remove criminal penalties for a range of minor and outdated offences, with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah saying the move would reduce unnecessary criminal records and ease pressure on courts.
CM Omar said the Jammu and Kashmir State Laws (Decriminalisation of Offences) Bill, 2026, was not intended to remove criminal liability for serious violations.
He was responding to concerns from MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Para over possible misuse of the provisions, including in cases involving contractors using substandard construction material.
Omar said the Bill did not decriminalise such conduct and cited outdated provisions involving steam whistles and regulations concerning elephants, bears and camels as examples of offences being removed from the criminal framework.
He said some violations, including certain offences involving posters, banners and disposal of dead animals, could instead attract financial penalties.
“We are not even reducing the fines. Either the fine remains where it is, or we are increasing it,” Omar said.
The Chief Minister said the aim was to prevent people, particularly young people, from acquiring criminal records over minor violations.
Under the proposed system, such cases would be handled by designated adjudicating and verifying officers, with an appellate authority available to review penalties.
Omar said the courts would remain available but would no longer handle such matters at the initial stage.
He said the reform was also intended to reduce the workload on subordinate and higher courts.
The Bill was later passed by the Assembly.
