HYDERABAD: Out of the 196 cases relating to atrocities against women handed over to one of the two special courts set up in March 2016, only four cases have been tried and disposed off till date.
The 10th Metropolitan Sessions Court - Women I and Women-II located in the premises of Nampally Criminal Court in Lakdikapul has no full-time judges. One special court had been set up in every district of the AP and TS for speedy disposal. The Women’s Court I, located in the second floor disposed off four cases out of the 196. Meanwhile, all 86 cases in the Women’s Court II, located in the cellar are pending.
“The IVth additional metropolitan sessions judge has been given additional charge for this court who has to deal with a lot of bail petitions and murder cases,” said a staffer at the Women’s Court II adding that two new cases came in the month of April. Both the courts deal with cases under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), that is punishment for rape under any circumstance and related cases including domestic violence, dowry-related, and other types of abuse.
Forced to abort, harassed
Take for example the case of a corporate employee who filed a complaint in 2011. A year after her courtship with a man, in 2007, she filed a complaint stating that she was raped and then harassed by the man and his mother.
During the course of her relationship, she was forced to abort her pregnancy in 2008. She said that was verbally and physically abused by the man’s mother. While she decided to stay away from him, the man started to blackmail her and also shared her nude images with her colleague. Cases 376, 420, 313, 506, 509, 292, 200 and 323 under IPC were lodged against him.
The current status of the case remains at fixing of trial while the man was let off on bail on July 8, 2011, seven days after he was remanded. A release order by the VI additional metropolitan sessions court was given to the accused on the same day. “There is no pressure on the accused to appear in court as the judge is not available to oversee a trial and hence cases such as these get postponed. Some of the parties just go ahead and compromise,” explained the staffer at Court II.
Rape case pending
A victim filed a complaint of a gang-rape in 2014, which is still pending. G Chandraiah, administrative judge HC of AP rued the shortage of judges. There is a dearth of judges after bifurcation of AP. Only six courts have full time judges with an additional charge. At least 500 cases coming in and under trial in a day, the cases at courts with addl charge are getting affected.