CM Fadnavis Orders Fast Track Courts to Boost SC/ST Atrocities Act Convictions

MUMBAI — Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday directed state authorities to take immediate measures to improve the conviction rate in cases registered under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The directive was issued during a state-level vigilance and monitoring committee meeting held at Vidhan Bhavan in Mumbai.

During the meeting, Chief Minister Fadnavis called for stronger investigations, better prosecution, and time-bound trials to ensure justice is delivered. He highlighted the importance of strengthening the legal process for cases under the SC/ST Atrocities Act.

To expedite trials and handle the backlog of cases, Fadnavis ordered the establishment of Fast Track Courts. These courts will be set up specifically in districts that have high volumes of cases registered under the Act.

Furthermore, the Chief Minister instructed that the performance of public prosecutors be evaluated based on the convictions they secure. This move is aimed at increasing accountability among prosecutors handling these sensitive cases.

To support these efforts, the Home Department's MARVEL institution will examine the factors contributing to low conviction rates. Following this examination, the institution will prepare a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for evidence collection to ensure that investigations are thorough and legally sound.

The decisions taken at Vidhan Bhavan are intended to strengthen the prosecution's case in court and ensure that trials are completed in a time-bound manner across Maharashtra.