CM: Speedy trial, not harsh penalty, need of the hour

Even before the Supreme Court directed all the high courts in various states to speed up the trials in women atrocity cases, the state government has chalked out a plan to bring down women atrocity cases to zero pendancy.

Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan has directed the law and judiciary department in this regard as he feels that speedy trials are more important than handing out harsh punishment in these cases.
According to the fresh data compiled by the department, there are 6,234 cases related to rape, gang-rape, kidnapping and abduction in session courts, while 41,617 cases of harassment for dowry (498-A), outraging the modesty of women and eve-teasing are pending in magistrate courts.

The figures are as on June 30, 2012. The government has chalked out a plan to dispose of the cases in two phases.

The cases prior to June 2012 would be disposed of in the courts of origin, while the cases registered thereafter would be handed over to the fast-track courts and in some cases to the regular courts.

Vijay Achaliya, principal secretary, law and judiciary department said that they are chalking out a plan in such a way that the pendancy would come down to zero in next 12 months.

“As per the government resolution issued in April 2011, the cases related to the atrocity against women, graft and registered under the Motor Vehicle Act were to be dealt by 100 fast-track courts. Now, we are planning 25 of them to be designated only for the cases related to the crimes against women,” he added.