The State of West Bengal has established a committee to recommend amendments to three newly enacted criminal laws: the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), all of which came into effect on July 1.

The committee was established after the West Bengal government's request to postpone the enforcement of the new criminal laws was not heeded by the Central government.

In a notification issued on July 16, the State's Home Department stated that the committee will propose State-specific amendments necessary for the new criminal codes and will examine whether their names need to be changed at the State level.

Former Calcutta High Court judge Justice Ashim Kumar Roy, who currently serves as the Lokayukta of West Bengal, has been appointed as the chairperson of the committee.

The other members of the committee are:

- Malay Ghatak, Law Department Minister in-charge;

- Chandrima Bhattacharyya, Minister of State with independent charge of the Finance Department, Health and Family Welfare Department and Land and Land Reforms and Refugee, Relief and Rehabilitation Department;

- The Advocate General of West Bengal;

- Advocate Sanjay Basu, Senior State Standing Standing Counsel at the Supreme Court;

- The West Bengal Director General and Inspector General of Police; and

• The Kolkata Police Commissioner.