India, May 29 -- In a bid to expedite the criminal justice process, the state home department has issued fresh directives mandating police officials to file chargesheets within fixed time limits. Police unit commanders across the state have been instructed to ensure strict compliance and avoid unnecessary delays, as per the directives issued on May 26.

According to the new guidelines, chargesheets in serious offences punishable by life imprisonment or death under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) must be filed within 90 days. For offences carrying a punishment of up to 10 years, the timeline has been set at 60 days. Similarly, for crimes attracting sentences between three and seven years, police must submit chargeshe...