Mumbai: The trial in the Delhi gangrape-murder case has set an example for other cases of crimes against women. Soon after the verdict, the Maharashtra Home Minister announced that the trial in the Mumbai gangrape case will also be fast-tracked. But an RTI query filed by CNN-IBN exposes the dismal records of fast-track courts.
An assurance was made by the Maharashtra government soon after the photojournalist was gangraped in Mumbai’s Shakti Mills. But the RTI application filed by CNN-IBN shows there’s nothing fast about Maharashtra’s fast-track courts.
As of June 2013, 63 fast-track courts in Maharashtra have been set up to deal with crimes against women. In 2009 alone, over 2000 cases were tried in these fast-track courts, of which only 42 per cent were resolved.
In 2012, the Union Law Ministry alotted 180 judges for these courts. In the same year, fast track courts with all-women staff were also earmarked for crimes against women. But only 39 per cent of the 3,800 cases tried in 2012 were resolved.
For Valerian Santos, it took over a year for the fast-track court to even begin the trial in the murders of his son Keenan and friend Reuben who died fighting sexual harassers. Two years on, witnesses are still being examined in the case.
Even in the murder of lawyer Pallavi Purkayastha, the hearing is only half-way through. Legal experts, however, caution that a fast-track court only means fewer adjournments and dedicated judicial staff. The process of conducting a fair trial cannot be hurried.
"If a normal trial will get over in 100 days then this will get over in 98 days, it is not a magical solution. The government or others who want to show the people that they are doing something will say it has been given to a fast-track court," said women’s rights lawyer Varsha Rokade.
As if the slow pace of the trials wasn’t enough, survivors and their families also have to deal with Maharashtra’s dismal conviction rate of 5 to 7 per cent in cases of crimes against women, one of the lowest in the country.