New Delhi, Oct 19 Expressing concern over low conviction rates and pendency of more than 3 lakh cases in district courts, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu on Monday directed the Directorate of Prosecution to ensure speedy redressal and accountability.
“Justice delayed cannot become justice denied. Every avoidable delay and lapse must be addressed,” Sandhu said.
The lieutenant governor, in a review meeting, directed immediate outcome-oriented measures to redress the issues.
Around 3.02 lakh trial cases were pending in the lower courts of Delhi, till September 30, out of which 2,54,597 were in Magistrate Courts and 47,880 in Sessions Courts.
Sandhu asked that trial in absentia be implemented in eligible cases and that electronic records, digital case tracking and video-conferencing be promoted, according to a Lok Niwas note.
On accountability, Sandhu asked that acquittals be analysed, prosecutorial lapses identified and corrective action taken.
The lieutenant governor also expressed “grave concern” over low conviction rates, and underlined that the Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, unprecedentedly empowers prosecution and provides for strengthening it by means of adequate personnel as well as specific timelines for investigation.
The officials in the meeting informed that a standing committee examines orders of acquittal in criminal cases to ascertain mistakes in investigation and prosecution.
A total of 64,210 cases were taken up in the 34 meetings of the committee since August 2014, the note said.
The lieutenant governor directed that cases involving women and children need to be prioritised.
He also directed an overhaul of case tracking, identifying trial delays, inter-agency coordination involving Delhi Police and the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) and effective briefing of investigation officers, the post said.
He emphasised enforcing BNSS timelines, operationalising trial-in-absentia wherever legally applicable, and holding investigating officers accountable for quality of investigation and evidence collection.
Sandhu also directed strengthening pre-trial scrutiny of charge-sheets, minimising adjournments and ensuring timely production of witnesses for speedy disposal, and training of prosecutors on new criminal laws.
He said that the issue of delays in appointment of personnel of the prosecution directorate, will be taken up by him with the UPSC and PWD to be expedited soon.
It was highlighted in the meeting that prosecutors in the district courts carry heavy caseloads. A total of 155 public prosecutors and additional public prosecutors posted in the sessions courts handled an average of 309 pending cases each, going up to 627 in Rohini.
The 126 additional public prosecutors and assistant public prosecutors posted in magistrate courts handled an average of 2,021 pending cases each, going up to 3,065 in Rohini, the note said.
Further, it was flagged that 216 of the 507 sanctioned posts of public prosecutor, additional public prosecutor and assistant public prosecutor are currently vacant.
Also, 42 of 71 sanctioned posts of supporting staff are vacant. The meeting was attended by the Principal Secretary (Law), Principal Secretary (Home), Special Commissioner of Police (Welfare & Legal), Director of Prosecution and other senior officials, added the note.
(PTI News)
