Gangrape aftermath: Centre pushing for fast track courts

NEW DELHI: In the wake of last month's gangrape in Delhi, the Law Ministry is pushing for early setting up of fast track courts across the country to try such heinous crimes and civil cases having human dimension and is ready to bear majority of the financial burden involved.

Law Minister Ashwani Kumar has written to the Chief Ministers and Chief Justices of all the 21 High Courts to set up such courts, which used to be in existence till 2005 but were wound up because of dispute over cost-sharing between the centre and states.

Kumar wants that these courts should try not only the heinous crimes like rapes, murder, dacoity but also civil cases having human angle like matrimonial disputes, custody matters and cases related to aged people.

"We are adopting a multi-pronged strategy in order to ensure that justice is not only delivered expeditiously, but also seen to be delivered and at affordable cost," the Minister told PTI in an interview.

"We are encouraging the state governments to set up fast track courts," he said, adding "all Chief Ministers and all Chief Justices have responded positively and favourably and purposive action is underway in all the states in this direction."

Punjab, Delhi, Kerala and Maharashtra have already started setting up fast track courts, he said.

The move comes against the backdrop of gangrape and brutal assault of a 23-year-old girl here on December 16 that shocked the nation and stirred the government.

Till 2005, there were upto 1500 fast track courts in the country but the system of setting these up was discontinued after states expressed difficulty in bearing the financial load of 50 per cent involved.

To overcome this, the Centre has now agreed to share the majority of financial burden, which could be up to 75 per cent and even 90 per cent in the case of North Eastern states.