Maharashtra to set up special courts for atrocity cases

Mumbai (PTI) - Indian state of Maharashtra's would
soon set up special courts in every division for speedy trial
of atrocity cases keeping in view that over 5000 cases are
pending.
A decision in this regard was taken on Monday by the
state's Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan in the backdrop of
Union Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Mukul Wasnik's
visit to the state last week, to review the implementation of
the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of
Atrocities) Act and Protection of Civil Rights Act.
Wasnik had expressed concern over the low conviction rate
in the state and high number of pending cases.
"The proposal would be prepared by the state Social
Justice Department and send to the Bombay High Court to set up
the special courts in all seven divisional headquarters,"
an official from the Home Department said.
The conviction rate in Atrocities Act cases in
Maharashtra is three per cent, while the national conviction
rate under the Act is 30 per cent, the official said.
Around 1,296 cases of atrocities were registered in the
state in 2009 of which 1,072 were against SCs and 224 against
STs.