Prithviraj Chavan demands 25 spl fast track courts to tackle rape cases

MUMBAI: Voicing concern over the pendency of rape cases, Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan today met the Chief Justice of Bombay High Court Mohit Shah, demanding setting up of 25 special fast track courts.

"I met the Chief Justice of Bombay High Court and asked for 25 special fast track courts (to deal with rape cases). There are some 26 vacancies (of judges) that have to be filled," Chavan told reporters here.

The chief minister said he would meet Shah again next week. "We will meet him next week with a proper agenda," he said.

Rubbishing the demand made by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on chemical castration of the rape accused,Chavan said, "It is a quite a silly demand...While quick punishment is important, initiating such a stricter punishment is a different issue".

On growing demand for capital punishment to perpetrators of rape, Chavan said one has to explore practical implications of such demand. "Theoretically, you say about hanging (death penalty) but what if it takes 20 years to decide," he said.

Expressing concern over higher pendency of rape cases, he said, "Let Parliament decide what should be the amendments done to the Indian Penal Code (IPC)".

Chavan admitted that pendency of rape cases is "unacceptably high" in the state.