Decide bail pleas of rape acccused expeditiously: HC to trial courts

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court has instructed trial courts here to expeditiously decide bail pleas of accused in sexual offence cases.

A bench of Chief Justice N V Ramana and Justice Manmohan gave the order while disposing of the plea of rape accused who had alleged that a fast track court in Rohini has not been granting bail in any of the matters before it.

Fast track courts have been set up in district courts here to deal with case of sexual offences.

However, the bench, rejected his contention questioning the consitutionality of the newly-included section 376 (2)(n) (repeatedly raping the same woman) of IPC, which was inserted as per the Criminal Amendment Act 2013 that was notified on April 2, 2013.

He had questioned the retrospective effect given to the provision, which had resulted in his falling under the ambit of section 376 (2)(n) of IPC.

As per section 2(1) of the Act, any amendment made therein will have retrospective effect from February 3, 2013 and he was arrested for the offence on March 13.