SC moots fast-track courts for gangsters' trials in Delhi

The Supreme Court on Thursday mooted the creation of fast-track courts in Delhi to expedite trials in cases lodged against “professional” gangsters and directed both the Delhi government and the Centre to formulate a concrete proposal in this regard within four weeks.

- Abraham Thomas

The court passed the order after being informed by the Delhi Police, in an affidavit, that 288 cases against gangsters and criminal gangs operating in Delhi are pending trial. Only 108 cases have reached the stage of framing of charges. ‘The affidavit also indicated that by any rate, it will take three to four years for a case to move from framing of charges to prosecution evidence being taken up. So far, only 25% of cases have reached the prosecution evidence stage, the first step of trial, it said.

‘A bench of justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi found the delay impeding the right of the accused to a speedy trial. At the same time, the bench raised a larger issue about such gangsters securing bail on the grounds of prolonged trials. Even the security of witnesses gets compromised in these situations, the bench added.

The court said, “This week, we read an instance where a witness was murdered. Who is going to depose against gangsters? What is the protective cover that you give them? They are your eyes and ears. If you don't protect them, public confidence in the criminal justice system gets affected and rule of law gets absolutely impaired in the eyes of the common man.”

At the core of the court's concern was to nip the possibility of such people securing bail and unleashing a spectre of violence.