HP police sets up management system for speedy trial of murder cases

Shimla, Jan 29 (PTI) A robust system has been put in place to ensure speedy trial of murder cases as the pendency of such cases in various courts of Himachal Pradesh has crossed 450, a police spokesperson said here.

The system introduced by Director General of Himachal Pradesh Police Sanjay Kundu envisaged a weekly review of the pending murder cases, besides keeping a tab on how many police personnel and private persons, who are witnesses in the cases, were appearing in the courts for testimony, the official said on Saturday.

Currently, 457 murder cases are pending in the courts of the state, of which 269 (59 per cent) are pending for more than two years and 100 cases (22 per cent) for more than a year, he said.

An analysis has showed that during the last 10 years, 974 murder cases were registered in the state. After completion of investigation, the challans of these cases were presented by police in respective courts for trial within a period of 90 days of registration, the spokesperson said.

The Himachal Pradesh DGP had initiated a similar trial management system for cases under the NDPS Act and those registered under rape charges, including the POCSO Act, in March 2021 and July 2022 respectively, which yielded desired results, he said.

The department is hopeful that now the courts will be able to deliver speedy verdicts in pending murder cases as well, the spokesperson added. PTI BPL IJT