Anantnag, February 16, 2026:In a notable step towards implementing the provisions of the new criminal laws at the ground level, the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Anantnag, Arshad Aziz Qureshi, awarded community service as punishment to an accused involved in an offence under Section 355 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Section 355 of the BNS empowers courts to award community service as a form of punishment in suitable cases, particularly for minor offences. The provision reflects a progressive shift in India’s criminal justice system from purely punitive measures to restorative and reformative approaches.
Taking into consideration the voluntary confession of the accused and the nature of the offence, the Court deemed it appropriate to impose community service under the said provision. The accused has been directed to perform community service at Government Medical College Anantnag by cleaning the premises for two days, i.e., on February 17 and 18, 2026.
The Superintendent of GMC Anantnag has been directed to supervise the community service and submit a compliance report before the Hon’ble Court.
The order was passed in the presence of members of the legal fraternity and the Learned Assistant Public Prosecutor, marking a practical step towards the effective enforcement of the newly introduced criminal laws.
