Five fast track courts for rape cases in J-K

Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir high court, M M Kumar on Thursday, inaugurated five fast track courts to try cases of rape and other offences against women.

Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Justice Hasnain Masoodi, besides prominent lawyers, government functionaries and law officers of the state were present at the inaugural function in Jammu.

The high court has taken the remarkable initiative keeping in view the urgency of expeditious trial of rape cases and the fact that justice delayed is justice denied, an official statement said.

The chief justice, in tune with the policy to use tools of modern technology for faster administration of justice, inaugurated the four courts earmarked as fast track courts in Kashmir division through video conferencing, the statement added.

During his interaction with the judges of these courts, the chief justice emphasised the obligations of delivering timely justice.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Jammu and Kashmir high court has sought the creation of eight courts of the rank of district and sessions judge as fast track courts in the districts where there is huge pendency of rape cases.

Since, it would take time to create new fast track courts, it was resolved to earmark five existing courts to exclusively try rape cases to provide succour to the victims, the statement said.

The high court has also sought the creation of 10 fast track courts of the rank of civil judge and sub judge in the state of Jammu and Kashmir to try the cases pertaining to offences against women at magistrate level.