Why in news
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An analysis of crime data by The Hindu in seven states revealed that nearly half the sexual offences cases are not being completed within the stipulated 60-day period.
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The Supreme Court has noted that trial had been completed in only 4% of the 24,000 cases of sexual offences that were filed from January to June.
More in news
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Why the Delay
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Some of the districts do not have separate fast-track courts though they have been identified as one.
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The fast-track courts designated to handle rape cases are also handling other criminal cases leading to delay in verdicts.
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As per the government data, there are already 664 dedicated special courts with 2,021 public prosecutors and another 1,023 courts are planned.
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ITSSO
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Home Ministry launched an analytics tool ”” Investigation Tracking System for Sexual Offences (ITSSO) to monitor and track time-bound investigation.
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ITSSO is a part of the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and System (CCTNS) that connects over 15,000 police stations across the country.
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Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018
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The Act seeks to check sexual crimes against women and children.
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It also prescribed the time-limit for completion of investigation.
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Where lies the remedy
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180 cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO)have been classified as priority cases where conviction is expected within a month.
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As the government plans to set up more courts, it will address the lacunae like special courts handling other criminal cases apart from sexual offences.
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The Empowered Committee on the Nirbhaya Fund approved INR 767.25 crore for setting up 1,023 fast-track courts.
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About CCTNS
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CCTNS is a Mission Mode Project under the National e-Governance Plan (NeGP) of Govt. of India.
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CCTNS aims at creating a comprehensive and integrated system for enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of policing through adopting of principle of e-Governance.
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The system envisages to create nationwide networking infrastructure for evolution of IT-enabled-state-of-the-art tracking system around ‘Investigation of crime and detection of criminals.
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Under the CCTNS Project, as per CCEA note approx. 14,000 Police Stations throughout the country are to be automated beside 6000 higher offices in police hierarchy.
Source
The Hindu