Set up fast-track courts without delay: CJI to HCs

The CJI, while underlining that the “recent tragic incident involving the brutal gangrape and subsequent death” of a Delhi girl has left an indelible mark and shaken the conscience of the nation, asked the high courts to ensure that the cases relating to offences against women must be fast-tracked and taken up for hearing “on priority basis”, both at high court and district court levels.

In a letter written to chief justices, Justice Kabir said while the issue of fast-tracking of such cases was already in his agenda for the 2013 Chief Justices’ Conference slated for April this year, he was “giving vent” to his concern for the “helpless victims awaiting justice” by instantly writing to the chief justices.

“The spontaneous outburst of outrage and anger is a measure of how the incident has left an indelible mark and shaken the conscience of the nation. Rape is not only a physical barbarism, but afflicts the very soul of a victim.... I feel that steps should be taken immediately to set up fast-track courts to deal exclusively with cases of offences against women,” said the CJI.

Regretting that a large number of cases relating to offences against women were pending across different courts in

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