Daijiworld Media Network - Raipur

Raipur, Dec 10: In a significant move aimed at strengthening the rehabilitation process for surrendered Maoists, the Chhattisgarh Cabinet on Wednesday approved a structured mechanism for the withdrawal of criminal cases filed against them under the Chhattisgarh Naxal Surrender/Victim Relief and Rehabilitation Policy 2025, officials said.

The proposed system will assess good conduct and positive contribution of surrendered extremists in anti-Maoist operations before considering case withdrawal.

As per the government’s statement, a Cabinet sub-committee will scrutinize each case recommended for withdrawal and forward them to the full Cabinet for final approval. A district-level committee will first review the cases and file a detailed report to the Police Headquarters. Following legal assessment, proposals will be sent to the state government for necessary action.

Cases under central laws will require approval from the Union Government, while others will be processed through respective courts by the district magistrates for formal withdrawal, officials added.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet also gave a nod to the Chhattisgarh Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) (Second) Bill, 2025, aimed at simplifying 116 provisions across 14 Acts of 11 departments. The initiative pushes India further towards reducing criminalisation of minor infractions and ensuring ease of doing business and ease of living.

With this step, Chhattisgarh has become the first state in the country to bring in a second version of Jan Vishwas reforms. The changes are expected to ease compliance requirements and reduce the judicial burden on minor cases.

The Cabinet additionally approved the Chhattisgarh Appropriation Bill, 2025, paving the way for the presentation of the first supplementary budget estimates for the year 2025–26 in the state Assembly.