Union government’s recent announcement of setting up 1,023 Fast-Track Special Courts (FTSCs) for expeditious trial of a huge number of backlog cases of crimes against women and children registered all across the country was really need of the hour and a significant step forward in delivering timely justice. In a country where ground level realities are such that the maxim ‘justice delayed is justice denied’ is often proved to be distressingly true, this news will perhaps bring some smiles to the victims.

It can be recalled that Supreme Court, acting on a suo motu PIL that conveyed concern about alarming rise in child abuse cases and their long pendency in courts, in July last directed the central government for setting up special courts in those districts that had over 100 such cases awaiting trial under POCSO Act. With this initiative, over 1.66 lakh pending cases of such crimes are expected to gather momentum as these FTSCs will pursue the target of disposing at least 165 cases per year. But more significantly, 389 courts out of the total will exclusively handle cases registered under POCSO Act. It is no secret that delay in investigation process of cases concerning the most heinous atrocities against women and children is most of the time inordinate, thus leading to deferment in delivery of justice and adding furthermore to the complexities. It has also been observed that in many states, existing fast-track courts designated to handle such cases are also handling other criminal cases, which naturally delays process of verdict pronouncements. Wrong-doings of various kinds against women in the country, which has always been known to be male-dominated had been a steady feature since centuries. But the recent phenomenon of crimes against children and their alarming growth had added more to the concerns. In 2016 alone after recording a steady increase over the immediate previous years, approximately 36,000 cases were registered under POCSO Act. With such an unsettling backdrop, there was perhaps no option but to include death penalty and stricter punishments under the Act which underwent amendment last month.

Despite starting the commendable initiatives of fast-tracking justice and amending the law suitably, it will be beyond anyone’s doubt that there is still a long way to go when the Indian society can be termed as ‘more safer and liveable’ for women and children. Elements such as child pornography and many others are in aplenty that makes the prevention mechanism far too difficult. In a vast and populous country like us, it’s not a job that can be carried by the law enforcing apparatus alone. A mass movement with civil society playing a lead role might be an answer. 

 

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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