Over 80 pc rape cases pending in courts: SC Judge

CHENNAI: More than 80 per cent of rape cases were pending in courts across the country while in Tamil Nadu alone two such cases were registered everyday in 2011, Supreme Court Judge Justice P Sathasivam said today.

Seeking more proactive role by women lawyers particularly against domestic violence and gender discrimination, he said, "women lawyers' role becomes vital in such areas as those involving domestic violence, child abuses and gender discrimination".

Participating in the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Women Lawyers Association here, he said according to the 2011 report of National Crime Record Bureau "statistics reveal that the percentage of trials pending in rape cases (across the country) is 83.6 per cent."

Further, there are about 677 rape cases which had been registered in Tamil Nadu in 2011, aggregating up to two cases being registered everyday. Women lawyers have a greater role to play (in such situations), he said.

Supreme Court Judge Justice Fakkir Mohamed Ibrahim Kalifulla said "exploitation of women is reality. Women emancipation lies in the awareness about their (basic) rights."

Praising women lawyers for their talent and inherent sensitivity, former Chief Justice of Madras High Court and Supreme Court Judge M Y Eqbal said women had made their mark in the legal profession.