Jaipur2 hours agoWriters: Sanjeev Sharma/Mahesh Sharma
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After the brutality and brutality of a 4-year-old in Karauli on Saturday, questions have been raised on the law and order situation, the slow justice system is also in the dock. In the last 28 months (2020 to April 2022) 13,890 cases of rape have been registered in the state. Of these, 11,307 rapes were committed against minors. At the same time, in two years, 170 girls below the age of 12 years have been reported to be raped.
The government made a provision for capital punishment in 2013 in such cases. Despite this, the pressure of the POCSO Court is being increased in these sensitive cases. Despite more than 700 cases pending in 7 POCSO courts of Jaipur, cases of adults are being transferred here. There are 62 such cases in 2 courts of Jaipur Metro. Its number in the state is more than 100.
That too when only 45% of the cases registered in 28 months, that is, only 6,191 reached the court. Of these, punishment was found in only 4.46% of the cases. The POCSO court sentenced 8 people who had committed crimes in 3 years to death, but not even one was implemented. The High Court had ordered in 2018 to open a POCSO court on 50 rape cases.
In this context, 153 courts were to be opened, but far from opening new courts, the burden of the existing 57 POCSO courts was increased. This order was given regarding the immediate decisions of the High Court in 2018. In the existing many POCSO courts, cases of harassment of women have also been transferred, due to which serious cases like rape are being marginalised.
CM claims 8 to be hanged, reality different
CM Gehlot had said- ‘In the last 3 years, 8 convicts have been hanged, more than 137 life imprisonment and more than 620 convicts have been sentenced under the POCSO Act.’ In fact, none of the death sentences were implemented. In many cases, the appeals of the accused and the appeal of the death reference of the state government are pending in the High Court, while in many the High Court stayed the order.
Current status of 8 hanging cases
- On 29 April 2022, the POCSO Court of Bundi sentenced the accused Sultan and Chhotu Lal to death in the case of raping a minor. The matter is with the High Court for confirmation of the sentence.
- The POCSO Court of Jaipur district sentenced Suresh Kumar Balai to death on February 10, 2022 in the rape and murder case of a four-and-a-half-year-old innocent. The appeal of the accused is pending in the High Court.
- Jhalawar’s POCSO court had sentenced Komal Lodha to death in September 2018 in the kidnapping, rape and rape of a 7-year-old girl. In 2019, the High Court converted this hanging to life imprisonment. It also said that a wrong investigation was done against Komal.
- The POCSO Court of Alwar had given the death sentence to the accused Rajkumar in the murder case after raping the innocent, the High Court canceled it.
- Jhunjhunu’s POCSO court sentenced Sunil Kumar to death on March 17, 2021, in the kidnapping and rape case of a 5-year-old girl. The matter is pending in the High Court.
- Jodhpur’s POCSO Court sentenced Nikaram to death on 27 September 2021 in the rape and murder case of an 8-year-old girl. Similarly, in the Poxo Court of Nagaur, the death sentence was awarded in the case of rape and murder of a 7-year-old girl. Like others, these cases too are pending.
Bhaskar Expert, there should be a separate court at the age of less than 12 years…hear the appeals challenging the death penalty soon
- Former High Court Justice Panachand Jain said – The government should apply for early hearing in the appeals challenging the death sentence of POCSO Court. Request a quick decision.
- Criminal cases advocate Deepak Chauhan said – whether there is an appeal challenging the death penalty or a mercy petition, there should be a time limit to get it fixed.
- High Court advocates Manasvi Maharishi and Almas Khanum said – Separately, POCSO court should hear rape cases of girls below 12 years of age. Generally, all rape cases are heard in POCSO court.