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Maximum rape cases against children pending trial in Maharashtra

Increasing pendency of cases in courts, even in high priority cases like rape against children, is a telling comment on the worsening justice delivery system in India and how much lawmakers and law implementing agencies, including courts, care to redress the plight of the victims.

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Increasing pendency of cases in courts, even in high priority cases like rape against children, is a telling comment on the worsening justice delivery system in India and how much lawmakers and law implementing agencies, including courts, care to redress the plight of the victims.

How many cases pending in state?

Among all states and UTs, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh share the dubious distinction of having maximum rape cases against children pending trial. According to the national crime records bureau (NCRB) data, out of a total of 28,171 such cases pending trial in 2013, Maharashtra alone accounted for maximum 6,435 cases pending trial under rape of children, while

Madhya Pradesh accounted for 4,098 such cases.

Maharashtra also features among states having the worst conviction rate with 16.4% convictions in 2013.

In previous two years, Maharashtra again topped the charts with maximum number of cases pending trial for rape of children – 4,899 in 2011 and 5,396 in 2012 and scored lowest conviction rates of 16.6% and 13.3% respectively.

Uttar Pradesh comes at third position with 3,018 cases pending trial under rape of children in 2013. Among UTs, Delhi alone accounted for maximum number of 1,534 such cases out of a total of 1,669 cases.

What does the home ministry say?

Union home ministry officials say the reason for this abnormally high rate of pendency are multi-faceted, the chief reason being lack of fast trial courts and competent judges capable of disposing cases in quick time. "The poor quality of government prosecution lawyers who often compromise with the defense counsel during trial and shoddy investigation are also important reasons for increasing pendency of trial cases," say officials.

"We have brought these facts to the notice of state governments, particularly of Maharashtra, MP, UP, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. But law and order being a state subject, we at the most can advise and give them financial assistance to set up fast track courts etc. The rest is their duty," said a senior official.

What initiatives has the Centre taken?

The Centre on its part has taken initiatives for pendency reduction. The number of district and subordinate courts has increased from 16,949 in 2010 to 19,518 in 2013. Besides, the Centre has provided financial assistance to the tune of Rs3,132 crore to state governments and Union Territories for up-gradation and construction of court complexes and residential units for judicial officers in the last four years.

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