8,200 CBI cases still await trial
Vishwa Mohan | TNN
New Delhi: Public pressure might have prompted the CBI to work round the
clock to ensure the speedy trial in the Priyadarshini Mattoo rape-cum-murder
case but the country’s premier investigating agency has not had the same
luck always, with over 8,200 cases still awaiting trial.
What’s more, over 2,276 cases have been gathering dust in various courts
for more than 10 years now, with 244 of them pending trial for over 20
years. In 2006, the CBI had 8,297 cases awaiting trial after completion of
investigations for one or the other reason. The figure stood at 6,898 in
2005. The statistics were released in the presence of CBI director Vijay
Shanker.
As part of its strategy to reduce pendency of cases in 2007, the agency
is now examining ways and means to expedite trials of pending cases,
especially of those languishing for over 10 and 20 years and those in which
charges have not been framed.
The CBI has 438 cases in which charges have not been framed by the
designated courts for over 10 years. Though the agency did not specify
reasons for the delay, it identified this as “the major area of concern”.
These cases are varied in nature-ranging from rape, murder and rioting to
corruption in government agencies.
Though the CBI did not explain why steps were not taken to speed up the
trial in these cases like in the Mattoo case, the official document said
efforts would be intensified to have more special courts. Filling up
vacancies of public prosecutors, increasing the number of special counsels
and strengthening and modernising the agency’s directorate of prosecution
were also listed as steps to end the pendency of cases.