In a significant observation aimed at addressing the growing backlog of gangster-related cases in the national capital, the Supreme Court on Thursday called on the Union of India and the Delhi government to consider establishing fast-track courts for such cases.
The Court emphasized the need for these courts to operate on a day-to-day basis to ensure swift trials and uphold the rule of law.
288 Gangster Trials Pending In Delhi
The suggestion came from a bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi, during a hearing in which the Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SD Sanjay informed the Court that 288 trials related to gangster activity are currently pending in Delhi’s courts.
The bench noted that the pendency of such a large number of trials necessitates adequate judicial infrastructure. “There will have to be appropriate strength of courts to ensure these cases are aptly distributed and tried expeditiously,” the Court stated, suggesting that dedicated fast-track courts would help bring long-pending cases to a close.
Call For Structural & Procedural Reforms
The judges stressed that for such a system to work effectively, the government would need to create new judicial posts or consider an ad-hoc cadre of judicial officers specifically assigned to these courts. Additionally, they highlighted the need for supporting infrastructure and staff.
The Court also suggested a set of procedural reforms, including:
- Mandatory appearance of defence counsels
- Strict limitations on adjournments
- Defined timelines for investigation and framing of charges
These measures, the bench observed, would help prevent unnecessary delays and strengthen the justice delivery mechanism in cases involving hardened criminals and gangsters.
Dedicated Court Complexes & Witness Protection
Justice Bagchi and Justice Kant further proposed the establishment of dedicated court complexes to handle gangster cases. These, they noted, would improve security and safety, especially for witnesses, and help ensure that accused individuals are not released on bail due to delayed proceedings.
Raising concerns about witness vulnerability, the Court strongly questioned the government’s efforts in ensuring their protection. “Witnesses are your eyes and ears. What are you doing to protect them?” the bench asked. Referring to recent incidents of violence in Delhi and surrounding areas, it warned that rule of law is at risk if witnesses are intimidated or fail to testify due to lack of security.
Judicial Expression
The bench also criticized what it described as a deliberate strategy to prolong trials in gangster cases. Justice Bagchi remarked, “The game plan is to protract the trial to win over witnesses.” Justice Kant added that gangsters must be dealt with “ruthlessly, but in accordance with law,” and underlined the need for urgency in addressing the criminal justice challenges in Delhi, Haryana, and the National Capital Region (NCR).
Call For Coordinated Action
The Court urged a collaborative effort among the Union government, the Delhi government, and the Delhi High Court to address the issue holistically. Only through joint action, it said, can the justice system be strengthened to deal effectively with the growing influence of organized crime in the region.
The bench concluded by emphasizing the need of the hour: a robust legal mechanism to dismantle gangster networks, protect witnesses, and restore public faith in the rule of law.
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